GIFT   OF 
MICHAEL  REESE 


lot 


THE 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA, 


BY 


HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


BY     THEODORE     IRVING, 


Son  quattromila,  e  bene  armati  e  bene 
Inatrutti,  usi  al  disagio  e  tolleranti. 
Buona  d  la  gente,  e  non  pud  da  phi  <l~tta 
O  da  piii  forte  guida  esser  condotta         TASSO. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES. 

VOL.  I. 


*  PHILADELPHIA  : 
CAREY,    LEA    &   BLANCHARD 


1835. 


ENTERED  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1835, 
by  THEODORE  IRVING,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court 
of  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 


DEDICATION. 


TO  WASHINGTON   IRVING,  ESQ. 

MY  DEAR  UNCLE, 

I  KNOW  of  no  person  to  whom  I  can  with  more 
propriety  dedicate  the  following  pages  than  to  your 
self,  since  they  were  written  at  your  suggestion,  and 
the  materials  of  which  they  are  composed  were 
moulded  into  their  present  form  and  feature  under 
your  affectionate  and  judicious  advice. 

Often,  in  the  course  of  my  labours,  when  I  have 
been  dismayed  by  unlooked  for  difficulties,  and  dis 
heartened  by  those  misgivings  which  beset  an  in 
experienced  writer,  you  have  dispelled  my  doubts, 
cheered  forward  my  faltering  spirit,  and  encour 
aged  me  to  persevere. 

I  would  be  pardoned  for  alluding  to  other  and 

greater  obligations  yet  nearer  to  my  heart :  with 
2 


IV  DEDICATION. 

the  anxious  interest  of  a  parent's  eye,  you  have 
watched  over  the  most  critical  period  of  my  life. 
Amid  the  excitement  and  snares  of  foreign  scenes, 
and  in  the  quiet  employments  of  our  home,  your 
counsels  have  been  my  guide — your  friendship — the 
circumstances  will  excuse  the  term  from  one  so 
much  your  junior — your  friendship  my  happiness 
and  pride.  The  heedlessness  of  boyhood  could  not 
arrest  your  assiduous  care — the  wayward  habits  of 
youth  have  not  wearied  your  unceasing  solicitude. 
That  I  have  been  thus  far  led  in  safety,  claims  the 
fervent  gratitude  of 

Your  affectionate  nephew, 

THEODORE  IRVING. 

NEW- YORK,  March,  1835. 


PREFACE. 


WHILE  studying  the  Spanish  language,  some  few  years 
since,  at  Madrid,  an  old  chronicle  was  placed  in  my  hands,  re 
lating  to  the  early  discoveries  and  achievements  of  the  Span 
iards  in  America.  It  was  denominated  "  The  Florida  of  the 
Inca,  or  the  History  of  the  Adelantado,  Hernando  de  Soto, 
Governor  and  Captain-General  of  the  Kingdom  of  Florida, 
and  of  other  heroic  cavaliers,  Spaniards  and  Indians :  written 
by  the  Inca  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega."  As  I  read,  I  became  in 
sensibly  engrossed  by  the  extraordinary  enterprise  therein  nar 
rated:  I  dwelt  with  intense  interest  upon  the  hairb rained  adven 
tures  and  daring  exploits  of  steel-clad  warriors,  and  the  no  less 
valiant  and  chivalrous  deeds  of  savage  chieftains,  which  entitle 
this  narrative  to  the  high  praise  bestowed  upon  it  by  Mr. 
Southey,  of  being  one  of  the  most  delightful  works  in  the 
Spanish  language. 

At  a  subsequent  day,  I  was  advised  to  undertake  a  free  trans 
lation  of  it  into  English,  as  a  literary  exercise.  While  occu 
pied  in  the  task,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  with  a  narra 
tive  on  the  same  subject,  written  by  a  Portuguese  soldier,  who 
was  present  in  the  expedition.  This  led  me  to  further  research 
and  closer  examination ;  and,  finding  that  the  striking  events 
and  perilous  adventures  in  the  chronicle  of  the  Inca,  were  borne 
out,  in  the  main,  by  this  narrative  from  another  hand,  and  that 
various  lights  had  been  thrown  by  modern  travellers  upon  the 
1* 


V  PREFACE. 

line  of  march  said  to  have  been  taken  by  the  adventurous  band 
of  De  Soto,  I  was  convinced,  that  what  I  had  before  regarded 
almost  as  a  work  of  fiction,  was  an  authentic,  though,  perhaps, 
occasionally  exaggerated  history. 

Deeming,  therefore,  that  a  full  account  of  an  expedition 
which  throws  such  an  air  of  romance  over  the  early  history  of 
a  portion  of  our  country,  would  possess  interest  in  the  eyes  of 
my  countrymen,  I  resolved,  to  the  best  of  my  abilities,  to  di 
gest  a  work  from  the  materials  before  me. 

The  two  main  sources  from  which  I  have  derived  my  facts, 
are  the  narratives  already  mentioned,  by  the  Inca  Garcilaso 
de  la  Vega,  and  by  the  anonymous  Portuguese  adventurer. 
The  former  I  have  consulted  in  a  folio  edition,  printed  in  Ma- 
drid,  in  1723,  and  in  the  history  of  the  Indias,  by  Herrera,  in 
which  it  is  incorporated  almost  at  full  length.  The  Portuguese 
narrative  I  have  found  in  an  English  translation,  published  in 
London,  in  1686,  and  in  an  abridgment  in  Purchas'  Pilgrims. 

It  has  been  the  fashion,  in  later  days,  to  distrust  the  nar 
rative  of  the  Inca,  and  to  put  more  faith  in  that  of  the 
Portuguese.  This  has  occasionally  been  done  without  due 
examination  into  their  respective  claims  to  credibility.  Gar 
cilaso  de  la  Vega  was  a  man  of  rank  and  honour.  He  was 
descended  from  an  ancient  Spanish  stock  by  the  father's  side, 
while  by  the  mother's,  he  was  of  the  lofty  Peruvian  line  of  the 
Incas.  His  narrative  was  originally  taken  down  by  himself, 
from  the  lips  of  a  friend ;  a  cavalier  of  worth  and  respect 
ability,  who  had  been  an  officer  under  De  Soto,  and  for  whose 
probity  we  have  the  word  of  the  Inca  as  a  guarantee.  It  was 
authenticated  and  enriched  by  the  written  journals  or  memo 
randums  of  two  other  soldiers,  who  had  served  in  the  expe 
dition.  He  had  the  testimony,  therefore,  of  three  eye  wit 
nesses. 


PREFACE.  Vll 

The  Portuguese  narrative,  on  the  other  hand,  is  the  evidence 
of  merely  a  single  eye  witness,  who  gives  himself  out  as  a 
cavalier,  or  gentleman ;  but  for  this  we  have  merely  his 
own  word,  and  he  is  anonymous.  There  is  nothing  intrinsic 
in  his  work  that  should  entitle  it  to  the  exclusive  belief 
that  has  been  claimed  for  it.  It  agrees  with  the  narrative 
of  the  Inca,  as  to  the  leading  facts  which  form  the  frame  work 
of  the  story :  it  differs  from  it  occasionally,  as  to  the  plans  and 
views  of  Hernando  de  Soto ;  but  here  the  Inca  is  most  to  be 
depended  upon — the  Spanish  cavalier  from  whom  he  derived 
his  principal  information,  being  more  likely  to  be  admitted  to 
the  intimate  councils  of  his  commander  than  one  of  a  differ 
ent  nation,  and  being  free  from  the  tinge  of  national  jealousy 
which  may  have  influenced  the  statements  of  the  Portuguese. 

The  narrative  of  the  Portuguese  is  more  meagre  and  con 
cise  than  that  of  Garcilaso ;  omitting  a  thousand  interesting 
anecdotes  and  personal  adventures  ;  but  this  does  not  increase 
its  credibility.  A  multitude  of  facts,  gathered  and  gleaned 
from  three  different  persons,  may  easily  have  escaped  the 
knowledge,  or  failed  to  excite  the  attention  of  a  solitary  indi 
vidual.  These  anecdotes  are  not  the  less  credible  because 
they  were  striking  and  extraordinary ;  the  whole  expedition 
was  daring  and  extravagant,  and  those  concerned  in  it  men 
who  delighted  in  adventure  and  exploit.* 

I  have  been  induced,  therefore,  in  the  following  pages,  to 
draw  my  facts  more  freely  and  copiously  than  others,  in  latter 
days,  have  seemed  inclined  to  do,  from  the  work  of  the  Inca ; 
still  I  have  scrupulously  and  diligently  collated  the  two  narra 
tives,  endeavouring  to  reconcile  them  where  they  disagreed, 
and  to  ascertain,  with  strict  impartiality,  which  was  most  likely 

*  The  reader  will  find  a  note  concerning  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega  and  his 
in  the  Appendix. 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

to  be  correct,  where  they  materially  varied,  and  to  throw  upon 
the  whole  subject  the  scattered  lights  -furnished  by  various 
modern  investigators.  While  I  have  discarded  many  incidents 
which  appeared  hyperbolical,  or  which  savoured  too  strongly 
of  the  gossip  of  idle  soldiery,  I  have  retained,  as  much  as  pos 
sible,  those  every  day  and  familiar  anecdotes  which  give  so 
lively  a  picture  of  the  characters,  habits,  persons  and  manners 
of  the  Spanish  discoverers  of  those  days,  and  to  my  mind, 
bear  so  strongly  the  impress  of  truth  and  nature.  My  great 
object  has  been  to  present  a  clear,  connected,  and  character 
istic  narrative  of  this  singular  expedition  :  how  far  I  have  suc 
ceeded,  it  is  for  the  public  to  judge. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

CHAPTER  I. 

First  discovery  of  Florida. 

NEVER  was  the  spirit  of  wild  adventure  more  uni 
versally  diffused  than  at  the  dawn  of  the  sixteenth 
century.  The  wondrous  discoveries  of  Columbus 
and  his  hardy  companions  and  followers,  the  de 
scriptions  of  the  beautiful  summer  isles  of  the  west, 
and  the  tales  of  unexplored  regions  of  wealth  locked 
up  in  unbounded  wildernesses,  had  an  effect  upon 
the  imaginations  of  the  young  and  the  adventurous, 
not  unlike  the  preaching  of  the  chivalric  crusades  for 
the  recovery  of  the*  Holy  Sepulchre.  The  gallant 
knight,  the  servile  retainer,  the  soldier  of  fortune, 
the  hooded  friar,  the  pains-taking  mechanic,  the  toil 
ful  husbandman,  the  loose  profligate,  and  the  hardy 
mariner,  all  were  touched  with  the  pervading  pas 
sion,  all  left  home,  country,  friends,  wives,  children, 
loves,  to  seek  some  imaginary  Eldorado,  confidently 
expecting  to  return  with  countless  treasure. 

Of  all  the  enterprises  undertaken  in  this  spirit  of 


10  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

daring  adventure,  none  has  surpassed  for  hardihood 
and  variety  of  incident,  that  of  the  renowned  Her- 
nando  de  Soto  and  his  band  of  cavaliers.  It  was 
poetry  put  in  action ;  it  was  the  knight  errantry  of 
the  old  world  carried  into  the  depths  of  the  Ameri 
can  wilderness  ;  indeed,  the  personal  adventures, 
the  feats  of  individual  prowess,  the  picturesque  de 
scriptions  of  steel  clad  cavaliers,  with  lance  and  helm 
and  prancing  steed,  glittering  through  the  wilder 
nesses  of  Florida,  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  the  prairies 
of  the  Far  West,  would  seem  to  us  mere  fictions  of 
romance,  did  they  not  come  to  us  recorded  in  mat 
ter  of  fact  narratives  of  contemporaries,  and  corro 
borated  by  minute  and  daily  memoranda  of  eye 
witnesses. 

Before  we  enter,  however,  upon  the  stirring  and 
eventful  story  of  the  fortunes  of  De  Soto  and  his  fol 
lowers,  it  is  proper  to  notice  briefly  the  discovery 
of  the  land  which  was  the  scene  of  his  adventures, 
and  the  various  expeditions  to  it  which  stimulated 
him  to  his  great  enterprise. 

Those  who  are  conversant  with  the  history  of  the 
Spanish  discoveries  will  remember  the  chimerical 
cruise  of  the  brave  old  Governor  of  Porto  Rico, 
Ponce  de  Leon,  in  search  of  the  Fountain  of  Youth. 
This  fabled  fountain,  according  to  Indian  tradition, 
existed  in  one  of  the  Bahama  Islands.  Ponce  de 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  11 

Leon  sought  after  it  in  vain,  but  in  the  course  of  his 
cruisings  discovered  a  country  of  vast  and  unknown 
extent,  to  which,  from  the  abundance  of  flowers, 
and  from  its  being  first  seen  on  Palm  Sunday,  (Pas- 
cha  Florida)  he  gave  the  name  of  Florida. 

Obtaining  permission  from  the  Spanish  govern 
ment  to  subjugate  and  govern  this  country,  he  made 
a  second  voyage  to  its  shores,  but  was  mortally 
wounded  in  a  conflict  with  the  natives.  Such  was 
the  fate  of  the  first  adventurer  into  the  wild  regions 
of  Florida,  and  he  really  seems  to  have  bequeathed 
his  ill  fortune  to  his  successors. 

A  few  years  after  his  defeat  a  Captain  of  a  cara 
vel,  named  Diego  Miruelo,  was  driven  to  the  coast 
of  Florida  by  stress  of  weather,  where  he  obtained 
a  small  quantity  of  silver  and  gold  in  traffic  from 
the  natives.  With  this  he  returned  well  pleased  to 
San  Domingo,  spreading  the  fame  of  the  country 
he  had  visited.  About  the  same  time  a  company  of 
seven  wealthy  men  of  San  Domingo,  concerned  in 
gold  mines,  at  the  head  of  which  was  the  Licentiate 
Lucas  Vasquez  de  Ayllon,  auditor  and  judge  of  ap 
peals  of  that  island,  fitted  out  two  vessels  to  cruise 
among  the  islands  and  entrap  Indians  to  work  in 
the  mines.  In  the  course  of  this  righteous  cruise 
the  vessels  were  driven  by  stress  of  weather  to  a 
cape  on  the  East  coast,  to  which  they  gave  the 


12  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

name  of  St.  Helena.  The  country  in  the  neighbour 
hood  was  called  Chicorea.  and  is  the  same  now  call 
ed  South  Carolina.  Here  they  anchored  at  the 
mouth  of  a  river  which  they  called  the  Jordan,  after 
the  name  of  the  sea  captain  who  discovered  it.  It 
is  the  same  now  known  by  its  Indian  apellation,  the 
Cambahee.*  The  natives  hastened  to  the  shores 
at  sight  of  the  ships,  which  they  mistook  for  huge 
sea  monsters  ;  but,  when  they  beheld  men  issue 
from  them,  with  white  complexions  and  beards,  and 
clad  in  raiment  and  shining  armour,  they  fled  in  ter 
ror. 

The  Spaniards  soon  dispelled  their  fears,  and  a 
friendly  intercourse  took  place.  The  poor  Indians 
were  kind  and  hospitable,  brought  provisions  to  the 
ships  and  made  the  strangers  presents  of  martin 
skins,  pearls,  and  a  small  quantity  of  gold  and  silver. 
The  Spaniards  gave  them  trinkets  in  return,  and, 
having  completed  their  supplies  of  wood  and  water 
and  provisions,  invited  their  savage  friends  on  board 
of  the  ships.  The  Indians  eagerly  accepted  the  in 
vitation.  They  thronged  the  vessels,  gazing  with 

*  We  follow  the  general  opinion,  strengthened  by  the  circum 
stance  that  the  neighbouring  sound  and  Island  are  still  called  by 
the  name  of  St.  Helena.  Herrera  places  Cape  St.  Helena  and 
the  river  Jordan  in  the  thirty  second  degree  of  latitude,  which  is 
that  of  Savannah  river. — Vide  Herrera.  D.  2.  lib.  X.  c.  6. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  13 

wonder  at  every  thing  around  them ;  but  when  a 
sufficient  number  were  below  the  decks,  the  Spa 
niards  perfidiously  closed  the  hatches  upon  them, 
and,  weighing  anchor,  made  sail  for  San  Domingo. 
One  of  the  ships  was  lost  in  the  course  of  the  voyage, 
the  other  arrived  safe,  but  the  Indians  on  board  of 
her  remained  sullen  and  gloomy,  and  refused  food, 
so  that  most  of  them  perished  of  famine  and  melan 
choly.* 

The  reports,  however,  brought  back  by  the  kid 
nappers,  of  the  country  they  had  visited,  as  well  as 
the  specimens  of  gold  and  silver  brought  home 
about  the  same  time  by  Diego  Miruelo,  roused  the 
cupidity  and  ambition  of  the  auditor  Lucas  Vas- 
quez  de  Ayllon.  Being  shortly  afterwards  in  Spain, 
he  obtained  from  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  permis 
sion  to  conquer  and  govern  the  newly  discovered 
province  of  Chicorea.  With  this  permission  he  re 
turned  to  San  Domingo,  and  fitted  out  an  arma 
ment  of  three  large  vessels,  embarking  personally  in 
the  enterprise. 

Diego  Miruelo  persuaded  him  first  to  steer  in 
quest  of  the  country  he  had  visited,  and  which  he 
represented  as  much  richer  than  Chicorea.  He  ac 
companied  the  expedition  as  pilot,  but  having,  with 

*  Hist.  Florida  por  el  Inca.  L.  1.  c.  2. 
Herrera,  D-  2.  L.  x.  c-  6. 

2 


14  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

a  negligence  unworthy  of  a  practised  mariner,  neg 
lected  in  his  first  visit  to  take  an  observation,  he  was 
unable  to  find  the  place  at  which  he  had  formerly 
landed,  and  wras  so  much  mortified  by  the  ridicule 
and  reproaches  of  his  employers,  that  he  fell  into  a 
profound  melancholy,  lost  his  senses,  and  died  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days. 

Lucas  Vasquez  de  Ayllon  now  prosecuted  his 
voyage  to  the  eastward  in  search  of  Chicorea.  Ar 
riving  in  the  river  Jordan,  (or  Cambahee)  the  scene 
of  perfidy  in  the  preceding  voyage,  his  principal 
ship  stranded  and  wras  lost.  With  the  remaining 
two  he  passed  further  to  the  Eastward,  and  landed 
on  a  coast  adjoining  Chicorea,  in  a  gentle  and  plea 
sant  region.  Here  he  was  so  well  received  that  he 
considered  the  country  already  under  his  dominion, 
and  permitted  two  hundred  of  his  men  to  visit  the 
principal  village,  about  three  leagues  in  the  interior, 
while  he  remained  with  a  small  force  to  guard  the 
ships. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  village  entertained  these 
visitors  with  feasting  and  rejoicing  for  three  days, 
until,  having  put  them  completely  off  their  guard, 
they  rose  upon  them  in  the  night  and  massacred 
every  soul.  They  then  repaired  by  daybreak  to 
the  harbour,  and  surprised  Vasquez  de  Ayllon  and 
his  handful  of  guards.  The  few  who  survived  es- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  15 

caped  wounded  and  dismayed  to  their  ships,  and 
making  all  sail  from  the  fated  coast,  hastened  back 
to  San  Domingo.  According  to  some  accounts 
Ayllon  remained  among  the  slain  on  the  coast  he 
sought  to  subjugate,  but  others  assert  that  he  re 
turned  wounded  to  San  Domingo,  where  the  humi 
liation  of  his  defeat  and  the  ruin  of  his  fortunes, 
conspired  with  his  bodily  ills  to  hurry  him  broken 
hearted  to  the  grave.  Thus  signally  did  the  natives 
of  Chicorea  revenge  the  wrongs  of  their  people  who 
had  been  so  perfidiously  kidnapped.* 


*  Hist.  Florida,  por  el  Inca.  L.  I.e.  2. 

Herrera.  D.  2.  L.  x.  c.  6.   Idem.  D.  iii.  lib.  8.  c.  8.  Peter  Mar 
tyr,  D.  vii.  c.  11. 

Heylyns  Cosmographie.  L.  4.  p.  100.  Lond.  Ed.  1669. 


16 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Expedition  ofPamphilo  de  Narvaez. 

A  CAVALIER  of  greater  note  was  the  next  who  as 
pired  to  subjugate  the  unknown  realms  of  Florida. 
This  was  the  brave  but  ill  starred  Pamphilo  de 
Narvaez,  the  same  who  had  attempted  to  arrest 
Hernando  Cortes  in  his  conquering  career  against 
Mexico,  in  which  attempt  he  was  defeated  in  battle, 
and  lost  an  eye.  Narvaez  possessed  favour  at  court 
and  was  enabled  to  fit  out  a  considerable  armament 
for  his  new  enterprise.  He  was  invested  by  the 
Emperor  Charles  V.  with  the  title  of  Adelantado,  or 
military  governor  of  the  country  he  expected  to  sub 
due  and  occupy,  which  was  that  part  of  Florida  ex 
tending  from  its  extreme  cape  to  the  river  of  Palms. 
In  this  expedition  he  trusted  to  wipe  off  the  dis 
grace  of  his  late  defeat,  and  even  to  acquire  laurels 
which  might  vie  with  those  of  Cortes. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1528,  Narvaez  anchored  at 
the  mouth  of  an  open  bay  on  the  eastern  coast  of 
Florida,  with  a  squadron  of  four  barques  and  a  bri- 
gantine.  Here  he  landed  his  forces,  consisting  of 
four  hundred  men  and  forty  five  horses  ;  having  lost 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  17 

many  of  his  men  by  desertion  in  the  West  India 
islands,  and  several  of  his  horses  in  a  storm. 

Erecting  the  royal  standard,  he  took  possession  of 
the  country  for  the  crown  of  Spain,  with  no  opposi 
tion  from  the  natives.  After  having  explored  the 
vicinity,  Narvaez  determined  to  penetrate  the 
country  in  a  northward  direction,  hoping  to  dis 
cover  some  great  empire  like  that  of  Mexico 
or  Peru;  In  the  mean  time,  the  ships  were  to 
proceed  along  the  coast  in  quest  of  some  conve 
nient  harbour  where  they  were  either  to  await  his 
arrival,  or  to  steer  for  Havana  and  return  with  sup 
plies  for  the  army.* 

This  plan  was  strongly  opposed  by  the  treasurer 
of  the  expedition,  one  Alvar  Nunez  Cabeza  de  Va- 
ca,  a  prudent  and  sagacious  man.  He  represented 
the  danger  of  plunging  into  an  unknown  wilderness 
without  knowing  a  word  of  the  language,  and  advis 
ed,  rather,  that  they  should  continue  on  in  their 
ships,  until  they  found  a  secure  harbour  and  a  fer 
tile  country,  from  whence  they  might  make  incur 
sions  into  the  interior. 

This  sound  advice  wras  slighted  by  Narvaez  and 
his  adventurous  companions,  whose  imaginations 
were  inflamed  with  the  idea  of  inland  conquest. 
The  squadron,  accordingly,  set  sail  to  the  north- 

*  Herrera.  Decad.  iv.  L.  iv.  c.  4. 

2* 


18  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ward  ;  and  Narvaez  and  his  troops  set  out  by  land 
in  the  same  direction,  accompanied  by  the  faithful 
Alvar  Nunez  ;  who  since  he  could  not  dissuade  his 
commander  from  his  desperate  career,  resolved  to 
share  his  fate. 

The  force  which  proceeded  by  land  consisted  of 
three  hundred  men,  forty  of  whom  were  mounted 
on  horses.  The  allowance  to  each  man,  consisted 
of  two  pounds  of  biscuit  and  half  a  pound  of  bacon. 
For  the  first  few  days  they  met  with  fields  of  maize, 
and  villages  containing  provisions.  Here,  however, 
they  outraged  the  feelings  of  the  natives  by  rifling 
and  laying  waste  their  sepulchres,  mistaking  them 
for  idolatrous  temples.  They  afterwards  journey 
ed  many  days  through  desert  solitudes  without 
house  or  inhabitant,  suffering  greatly  from  \vant  of 
food.  They  crossed  rapid  rivers  on  rafts  or  by 
swimming,  continually  exposed  to  the  assaults  of 
hordes  of  lurking  savages  :  they  traversed  swamps 
and  forests,  making  their  way  with  great  difficulty 
through  matted  thickets  and  over  fallen  trees,  and 
suffering  every  variety  of  misery  and  hardship. 

Still  they  were  cheered  onward  by  the  assurances 
of  certain  captives  who  served  as  guides,  that  at 
some  distance  ahead  lay  a  vast  province  called 
Apalachee,  extremely  fertile,  and  abounding  in  the 
gold  they  so  eagerly  sought  after. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  19 

At  length  they  arrived  in  sight  of  the  place  which 
gave  its  name  to  this  long  desired  province.  Nar- 
vaez  had  pictured  it  to  himself  a  second  Mexico, 
and  was  chagrined  at  finding  it  a  mere  village  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  houses.  Alvar  Nunez  was 
sent  forward  to  take  possession  of  it,  which  he  did 
without  opposition,  the  men  having  all  fled  to  the 
woods. 

The  Spaniards  remained  twenty  five  days  in  the 
village,  exploring  the  neighbouring  country,  and  sub 
sisting  upon  the  provisions  they  found  in  the  place. 
During  this  time  they  were  harassed,  day  and 
night,  by  the  natives  of  the  province,  who  were  an 
exceedingly  warlike  people.  They  were  disap 
pointed  in  their  hopes  of  finding  gold,  and  discourag 
ed  by  the  accounts  given  them  of  the  country  fur 
ther  on.  They  were  told,  however,  that  by  shaping 
their  course  to  the  southward,  towards  the  sea,  they 
would,  after  nine  days'  journey,  come  to  the  village 
of  Aute,  where  there  was  maize  and  vegetables  and 
fish  in  abundance,  and  where  the  natives  were  of  a 
friendly  disposition. 

Towards  Aute,  therefore,  did  they  turn  their  steps, 
more  eager  now  for  food  than  for  gold.  The  jour 
ney  was  perilous  and  full  of  disaster.  They  had  to 
cross  deep  lagoons  and  dismal  swamps,  with  the  wa 
ter  often  up  to  their  breasts,  their  passage  obstruct- 


20  CONQUEST    OP    FLORIDA. 

ed  by  rotten  trees,  and  beset  by  hordes  of  savages. 
These  appeared  to  the  disheartened  Spaniards  of 
gigantic  height ;  they  had  bows  of  enormous  size, 
from  which  they  discharged  arrows  with  such  force 
as  to  penetrate  armour  at  the  distance  of  two  hun 
dred  yards.  At  length,  after  incredible  hardships, 
and  with  the  loss  of  many  men  and  horses,  they  ar 
rived  at  the  village  of  Aute.*  The  natives  aban 
doned  and  burnt  their  houses  on  the  approach  of  the 
invaders,  but  they  left  behind  a  quantity  of  maize 
with  which  the  Spaniards  appeased  their  hunger. 

A  day's  march  beyond  the  village  brought  them 
to  a  river  which  gradually  expanded  into  a  large 
road,  or  arm  of  the  sea.  Here  they  came  to  a  pause 
in  their  adventurous  career,  and  held  a  consultation 
as  to  their  future  movements.  Their  hopes  of 
wealth  and  conquest  were  at  an  end.  Nearly  a  third 
of  their  original  number  had  perished  ;  while  of  the 
survivers  a  great  majority  were  ill,  and  disease  was 
daily  spreading  among  them.  To  attempt  to  re 
trace  their  steps,  or  to  proceed  along  the  coast  in 
search  of  the  fleet  would  be  to  hazard  all  their  lives. 
At  length  it  was  suggested  that  they  should  con 
struct  small  barques,  launch  them  upon  the  deep, 
and  keep  along  the  coast  until  they  should  find  their 

*  Supposed  to  be  on  what  is  now  called  the  Bay  of  St.  Marks. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  21 

ships.  It  was  a  forlorn  hope,  but  they  caught  at  it 
like  desperate  men.  They  accordingly  set  to  work 
with  great  eagerness.  One  of  them  constructed  a 
pair  of  bellows  out  of  deerskins,  furnishing  it  with 
a  wooden  pipe.  Others  made  charcoal  and  a 
forge.  By  the  aid  of  these  they  soon  turned  their 
stirrups,  spurs,  cross-bows  and  other  articles  of  iron, 
into  nails,  saws,  and  hatchets.  The  tails  and  manes 
of  the  horses  twisted  with  the  fibres  of  the  palm 
tree  served  for  rigging ;  their  shirts  cut  open  and 
sewed  together  furnished  sails  ;  the  fibrous  part  of 
the  palm  tree  also  was  used  as  oakum  ;  the  resin  of 
the  pine  trees  for  tar ;  the  skins  of  horses  were 
made  into  vessels  to  contain  fresh  water;  and  a 
quantity  of  maize  was  won  by  hard  fighting  from 
the  neighbouring  natives.  A  horse  was  killed  every 
three  days  for  provisions  for  the  labouring  hands  and 
the  sick.  Having  at  length  by  great  exertions  com 
pleted  five  frail  barks,  they  embarked  on  the  22d  of 
September,  from  forty  to  fifty  persons  being  in 
each ;  but  so  closely  crowded  were  they,  that  there 
was  scarcely  room  to  move,  while  the  gunwale  of 
the  boats  was  forced  down  by  their  weight  to  the 
wrater's  edge. 

Setting  sail  from  this  bay,  which  they  called  the 
Bay  of  Caballos,  they  continued  on  for  several  days 
to  an  island  where  they  secured  five  canoes  that  had 


22  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

been  deserted  by  the  Indians.  These  being  attach 
ed  to  their  barks  enabled  them  to  sail  with  greater 
comfort.  They  passed  through  the  strait  between 
the  island  and  the  main  land,  which  they  called  the 
Strait  of  San  Miguel,  and  sailed  onward  for  many 
days,  enduring  all  the  torments  of  hunger  and  parch 
ing  thirst :  the  skins  which  contained  their  fresh 
water  having  burst,  some,  driven  to  desperation, 
drank  salt  water,  and  died  miserably.  Their  suffer 
ings  were  aggravated  by  a  fearful  storm.  At  length 
they  approached  a  more  populous  and  fertile  part 
of  the  coast,  upon  which  they  landed  occasionally 
to  procure  provisions,  and  were  immediately  in 
volved  in  bloody  affrays  with  the  natives.  Thus 
harassed  by  sea  and  land,  famishing  with  hunger, 
their  barks  shattered  and  scarcely  manageable, 
these  unfortunate  wanderers  lost  all  presence  of 
mind,  and  became  wild  and  desperate.  They  were 
again  driven  out  to  sea,  and  scattered  during  a  stor 
my  night.  At  daybreak  three  of  these  tempest- 
tossed  barks  rejoined  each  other.  In  one,  which 
was  the  best  manned  and  the  best  sailer,  was  Pam- 
philo  de  Narvaez.  Alvar  Nunez,  who  had  com 
mand  of  another,  seeing  the  Adelantado  making  for 
the  land,  called  upon  him  for  aid.  Narvaez  replied 
that  it  was  no  longer  time  to  help  others,  but  that 
every  one  must  take  care  of  himself.  He  then  made 


CONQUEST   OF   FLORIDA.  23 

for  the  shore,    and   abandoned   Alvar    Nunez    to 
make  the  best  of  his  way  with  the  other  bark. 

After  wandering  along  the  coast  in  his  bark  for 
many  days,  Narvaez  anchored  one  night  off  the  land. 
All  his  crew  had  gone  on  shore  for  provisions,  ex 
cepting  one  sailor  and  a  page  who  was  sick.  A  vio 
lent  gale  sprang  up  from  the  north,  and  the  vessel, 
in  which  was  neither  food  nor  water,  was  driven  out 
to  sea,  and  no  tidings  ever  heard  of  her  after.  Thus 
perished  the  ill  fated  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez. 

The  only  survivers  of  this  disastrous  expedition 
were  Alvar  Nunez  Cabeza  de  Vaca,  arid  four  of  his 
companions.  After  the  most  singular  and  unparal 
leled  hardships,  they  traversed  the  northern  parts  of 
Florida,  crossed  the  Mississippi,  and  the  desert  and 
mountainous  regions  on  the  confines  of  Texas  and 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  passing  from  tribe  to  tribe  of 
Indians,  oftentimes  as  slaves,  until  at  the  end  of  se 
veral  years  they  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Spanish 
settlement  of  Compostella.  Fronx  thence  Alvar 
Nunez  proceeded  to  Mexico,  and  ultimately  arrived 
at  Lisbon  in  1537  ;  nearly  ten  years  after  his  em 
barkation  with  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez*. 

*  This  chapter  is  chiefly  taken  from  the  "  Naufragios  de  Alvar 
Cabeza  de  Vaca,"  with  occasional  references  to  Herrera. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Hernando  de  Soto — his  birth — adventures  in  Peru — 
Jits  out  an  armament  for  Florida — touches  at  the 
Canary  Islands — arrival  at  Cuba. 

ONE  would  have  thought  that  after  the  melan 
choly  result  of  these  sad  enterprises,  and  others  of 
less  note, but  equally  unfortunate,  the  coast  of  Florida 
would  have  been  avoided  as  a  fated  land.  The 
Spanish  discoverers,  however,  were  not  to  be  de 
terred  by  difficulties  and  dangers,  and  the  accounts 
rendered  of  the  vast  extent  of  this  unknown  coun 
try,  and  of  opulent  regions  in  its  interior,  served  to 
prompt  to  still  bolder  and  more  costly  enterprises. 

It  is  proper  to  note  that  the  Spaniards,  at  this 
period,  had  a  very  vague  idea  of  the  country  called 
Florida,  and  by  no  means  limited  it  to  its  present 
boundaries.  They  knew  something  of  the  maritime 
border  of  the  peninsula,  but  Florida,  according  to 
their  notions,  extended  far  beyond,  having  the  con 
fines  of  Mexico  in  one  direction,  the  banks  of  New 
foundland  in  another,  and  expanding  into  a  vast 
Terra  Incognita  to  the  north. 


CONQUEST   OF   FLORIDA.  25 

The  accounts  brought  to  Europe  by  Alvar  Nunez, 
of  the  expedition  of  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  contri 
buted  to  promote  this  idea.  It  was  supposed  that 
this  unfortunate  cavalier,  in  his  extensive  march,  had 
but  skirted  the  borders  of  immense  internal  empires, 
which  might  rival  in  opulence  and  barbaric  splen 
dour,  the  recently  discovered  Kingdoms  of  Mexico 
and  Peru  ;  and  there  was  not  wanting  a  bold  and 
ambitious  spirit  to  grasp  immediately  at  the  palm  of 
conquest. 

The  candidate  that  now  presented  himself  for  the 
subjugation  of  Florida,  was  Hernando  de  Soto,  and 
as  his  expedition  is  the  subject  of  the  succeeding 
pages,  it  is  proper  to  introduce  him  particularly  to 
the  reader.  Hernando  de  Soto  was  born  about  the 
year  1501,  in  Villa  nueva  de  Barcarota,*  and  was 
of  the  old  Spanish  hidalguia,  or  gentry,  for  we  are 
assured  by  one  of  his  biographers  that  "  he  was  a 
gentleman  by  all  four  descents ;"  that  is  to  say,  the 
parents  both  of  his  father  and  mother  were  of  gen 
tle  blood  ;  a  pedigree  which,  according  to  the  rules 
of  Spanish  heraldry,  entitled  him  to  admission  into 
the  noble  order  of  Santiago. 

*The  Portuguese  narrator  assigns  Xeres  de  Badajos  as  the  birth 
place  of  De  Soto  ;  we  follow,  however,  the  authority  of  the  Inca 
Garcelasso  de  la  Vega.  Herrera.  Hist.  Ind.  Dec.  VI.  L.  7.  c.  9. 
agrees  with  the  Inca. 

3 


26  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

Whatever  might  be  the  dignity  of  his  descent, 
however,  he  began  his  career  a  mere  soldier  of  for 
tune.  All  his  estate,  says  his  Portuguese  historian, 
was  but  a  sword  and  buckler.  He  accompanied 
Pedrarias  Davila,*  when  he  went  to  America  to  as 
sume  the  command  of  Terra  Firma.  The  merits  of 
De  Soto  soon  gained  him  favour  in  the  eye  of  Pedra 
rias,  who  gave  him  command  of  a  troop  of  horse : 
with  these  he  followed  Pizarro  in  his  conquering  ex 
pedition  into  Peru.  Here  he  soon  signalized  himself 
by  a  rare  combination  of  prudence  and  valour  :  he 
was  excellent  in  council,  yet  foremost  in  every  peril 
ous  exploit ;  not  recklessly  seeking  danger  for  dan 
ger's  sake,  or  through  a  vain  thirst  for  notoriety,  but 
bravely  putting  every  thing  at  hazard  where  any 
important  point  was  to  be  gained  by  intrepidity. 

Pizarro  soon  singled  him  out  from  the  hardy  spirits 
around  him,  and  appointed  him  his  lieutenant. f  Was 
there  a  service  of  especial  danger  to  be  performed, 
De  Soto  had  it  in  charge  ;  was  there  an  enterprise 
requiring  sound  judgment  and  fearless  daring,  De 
Soto  was  sure  to  be  called  upon.  A  master  at  all 
weapons,  and  a  complete  horseman,  his  prowess 
and  adroitness  were  the  admiration  of  the  Spanish 
soldiery.  They  declared  that  his  lance  alone  was 

*  Properly  written  Pedro  Arias  de  Avila. 
t  Herrera  Hist.  Ind.  Decad.  V.  L.  ii.  c.  2. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  27 

equal  to  any  ten  in  the  army  ;  and  that  in  the  ma 
nagement  of  this  chivalrous  weapon,  he  was  second 
only  to  Pizarro. 

He  was  sent  by  that  commander  on  the  first  em 
bassy  to  the  renowned  and  ill  fated  Inca  Atahualpa, 
whose  subjects,  we  are  told,  were  filled  with  sur 
prise  and  admiration  on  beholding  his  wonderful 
feats  of  horsemanship.* 

He  afterwards  commanded  one  of  the  squadrons 
of  horse  that  captured  this  unfortunate  Inca  and 
routed  his  army  of  warriors.f  He  led  the  way  with 
a  band  of  seventy  horsemen,  to  the  discovery  and 
subjugation  of  the  great  province  of  Cusco,  in  which 
he  distinguished  himself  by  the  most  daring  and 
romantic  achievements. J  We  might  trace  him 
throughout  the  whole  history  of  the  Peruvian  con- 

*Herrera.  Hist.  Ind.  Decad.  V.  L.  3.  c.  10.  says,  Hernan- 
do  de  Soto  sprang  upon  his  horse,  and  aware  that  the  eyes  of  the 
Inca  were  upon  him,  he  made  his  steed  curvet,  caracole  and  leap, 
and  striking  in  his  spurs  dashed  up  so  near  to  the  savage  Prince 
that  he  felt  the  very  breath  of  the  snorting  animal.  The  haughty 
Inca  was  as  serene  and  unmoved  as  if  he  had  been  accustomed  all 
his  life  to  the  charge  of  ahorse.  Many  of  the  Indians,  however, 
fled  in  terror.  Atahualpa  immmediately  ordered  the  fugitives  to 
appear  before  him,  and  sternly  reprehending  them  with  their  cow- 
ardice,  ordered  them  all  to  be  put  to  death  for  having  behaved  so 
dastardly  in  his  royal  presence. 

t  Vega.  Com.  de  Peru.  L.  1.  c.  21.     Herrera  D.  V.  L.  2.  c.  11. 

|  Herrera,  Dec.  V.  L.  4.  c.  x.  and  lib.  5.  c.  2.  3. 


28  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

quest  by  a  series  of  perilous  encounters  and  marvel 
lous  escapes,  but  our  purpose  is  only  to  state  briefly 
the  circumstances  which  directed  his  ambition  into 
the  career  of  conquest,  and  which  elevated  him  to 
the  notice  of  his  sovereign,  and  of  all  contemporary 
cavaliers  of  enterprising  spirit. 

Hernando  de  Soto  returned  to  Spain  enriched  by 
the  spoils  of  the  new  world  ;  his  share  of  the  trea 
sures  of  Atahualpa,  having  amounted,  it  is  said,  to 
the  enormous  sum  of  a  hundred  and  eighty  thousand 
crowns  of  gold.  He  now  assumed  great  state  and 
equipage,  and  appeared  at  the  court  of  the  Emperor 
Charles  V.,  at  Valladolid,  in  magnificent  style,  hav 
ing  his  steward,  his  major  domo,  his  master  of  the 
horse,  his  pages,  lacqueys,  and  all  the  other  house 
hold  officers  that  in  those  ostentatious  days,  swelled 
the  retinue  of  a  Spanish  nobleman.  He  was  ac 
companied  by  a  knot  of  brave  cavaliers,  all  evidently 
bent  on  pushing  their  fortunes  at  court.  Some  of 
them  had  been  his  brothers  in  arms  in  the  conquest 
of  Peru,  and  had  returned  with  their  purses  well 
filled  with  Peruvian  gold,  which  they  expended  in 
soldierlike  style,  on  horses,  arms,  and  "  rich  array." 
Two  or  three  of  them  deserve  particular  notice,  as 
they  will  be  found  to  figure  conspicuously  in  the 
course  of  this  narrative.  Nuno  Tobar,  a  native  of 
Xeres  de  Badajos,  was  a  young  cavalier  of  gallant 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  29 

bearing,  great  valour,  and  romantic  generosity. 
Another,  Luis  de  Moscoso  de  Alvorado,  likewise  of 
Xeres,  had  signalized  himself  in  his  campaigns  in  the 
new  world.  A  third,  Juan  de  Anasco,  was  a  na 
tive  of  Seville.  He  had  not  been  in  Peru,  but  was 
not  inferior  to  the  others  in  bravery  of  spirit,  while 
he  was  noted  for  his  nautical  skill  and  his  knowledge 
of  cosmography  and  astronomy. 

The  world  was  at  that  time  resounding  with  the 
recent  conquest  of  Peru.  The  appearance  at  court 
of  one  of  the  conquerers,  thus  brilliantly  attended, 
could  not  fail  to  attract  attention.  The  personal 
qualifications  of  De  Soto  corresponded  with  his 
fame.  He  was  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  being 
about  thirty-six  years  of  age,  of  a  commanding 
height,  above  the  middle  size,  and  a  dark,  animated, 
and  expressive  countenance.  With  such  advan 
tages,  of  person  and  reputation,  he  soon  succeeded 
in  gaining  the  affections  and  the  hand  of  a  lady  of 
distinguished  rank  and  merit,  Isabella  de  Bobadilla, 
daughter  to  Pedrarias  Davila,  Count  of  Puno  en 
Rostro.  This  marriage,  connecting  him  with  a 
powerful  family,  had  a  great  effect  in  strengthening 
his  influence  at  court.* 

De  Soto  might  now  have  purchased  estates,  and 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  1. 
3* 


30  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

have  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  opulently  and 
honourably  in  his  native  land,  in  the  bosom  of  his 
connexions,  but  he  was  excited  by  the  remembrance 
of  past  adventures,  and  eager  for  further  distinction. 
Just  at  this  juncture,  Alvar  Nunez  Cabeza  de  Vaca 
returned  to  Spain  with  tidings  of  the  fate  of  Parn- 
philo  de  Narvaez  and  his  followers.  His  tale,  it  is 
true,  was  one  of  hardships  and  disasters,  but  it  turned 
the  thoughts  of  adventurous  men  to  the  vast  and  un 
known  interior  of  Florida.  It  is  said  that  Alvar 
Nunez  observed  some  reserve  and  mystery  in  his 
replies  when  questioned  as  to  whether  they  had 
found  any  riches  in  the  country  they  had  visited ; 
that  he  talked  of  asking  permission  of  the  Crown  to 
return  there  and  prosecute  the  discovery,  and  that 
he  had  even  sworn  his  fellow  survivors  to  secrecy 
as  to  what  they  had  seen,  lest  others  should  be  in 
duced  to  interfere  with  his  prospects.* 

The  imagination  of  De  Soto  took  fire  from  what 
he  had  gathered  of  the  narrative  of  Alvar  Nunez. 
He  doubted  not  there  existed  in  the  interior  of  Flori 
da  some  regions  of  wealth,  equalling,  if  not  exceed 
ing,  Mexico  and  Peru.  He  had  hitherto  only  fol 
lowed  in  the  course  of  conquest ;  an  opportunity 
now  presented  of  rivalling  the  fame  of  Cortez  and 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  2. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  31 

Pizarro ;  his  reputation,  his  wealth,  his  past  ser 
vices,  and  his  marriage  connexions — all  gave  him  the 
means  of  securing  the  chance  before  him.  In  the 
magnificent  spirit  of  a  Spanish  cavalier,  he  asked 
permission  of  the  Emperor  to  undertake  the  con 
quest  of  Florida  at  his  own  expense  and  risk. 

His  prayer  was  readily  granted.  The  Emperor 
conferred  on  him  in  advance,  the  title  of  Adelantado, 
which  combines  military  and  civil  command,  and  a 
Marquisite,  with  an  estate  thirty  leagues  in  length 
and  fifteen  in  breadth,  in  any  part  of  the  country  he 
might  discover.  He,  moreover,  created  him  Gover 
nor  and  Captain-General  for  life,  of  Florida,  as  well 
as  of  the  Island  of  Cuba.  The  command  of  this 
Island  had  been  annexed  at  the  especial  request  of 
De  Soto,  as  he  knew  it  would  be  important  for  him 
to  have  the  complete  control  of  it,  for  the  fitting  out 
and  supplying  his  armaments  for  the  meditated  con 
quest. 

No  sooner  was  De  Soto  thus  gratified  in  his  wishes 
than  he  provided  for  his  brothers  in  arms  who  had 
accompanied  him  to  Court.  Nuno  de  Tobar  he  ap 
pointed  his  Lieutenant-General,  for  which  post  he 
was  well  qualified  by  his  great  valour  and  his  popu 
lar  qualities.  Luis  de  Moscoso  de  Alvarado  he 
made  Camp  Master  General,  and  he  procured  for 
Juan  de  Anasco  the  appointment  of  Contador,  or 


32  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

royal  accountant,  whose  duty  it  was  to  take  account 
of  all  the  treasures  gained  in  the  expedition,  and  to 
set  apart  one  fifth  for  the  crown. 

De  Soto  would  likewise  have  engaged  Alvar 
Nunez  Cabeza  de  Vaca  to  accompany  him,  and 
offered  him  highly  advantageous  terms,  which  he 
was  at  first  inclined  to  accept,  but  subsequently  re 
fused,  being  unwilling  to  march  under  the  command 
of  another  in  an  enterprise  in  which  he  had  aspired 
to  take  the  lead.  He  afterwards  obtained  from  the 
Emperor  the  government  of  Rio  de  la  Plata.* 

But  though  Alvar  Nunez  declined  to  embark  in 
the  enterprise,  his  representations  of  the  country  in 
duced  two  of  his  kinsmen  to  offer  their  services. 
One  of  them,  a  brave  and  hearty  cavalier,  named 
Balthazar  de  Gallegos  was  so  eager  for  the  expedi 
tion  that  he  sold  his  houses,  vineyards  and  corn 
fields,  and  fourscore  and  ten  acres  of  olive  orchards, 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Seville,  and  determined  to 
take  his  wife  with  him  to  the  new  world.  De  Soto 
was  so  well  pleased  with  his  zeal,  that  he  made  him 
Alguazil  Mayor.  The  other  kinsman  of  Alvar  Nu 
nez  was  named  Christopher  Spinola,  a  gentleman 
of  Genoa,  to  whom  De  Soto  gave  the  command  of 
seventy  Halberdiers  of  his  body  guard. 

It  was  soon  promulgated  throughout  Spain  that 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,    c.  4. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  33 

Hernando  de  Soto,  one  of  the  conquerors  of  Peru, 
was  about  to  set  out  on  the  conquest  of  the  great 
empire  of  Florida,  an  unknown  country,  equal  if  not 
superior  in  wealth  and  splendour  to  any  of  the  gold 
en  empires  of  the  new  world,  and  that  he  was  to 
do  it  at  his  own  expense,  with  the  riches  gained  in 
his  previous  conquests. 

This  was  enough  to  draw  to  his  standard  adven 
turers  of  all  kinds  and  classes.  Cavaliers  of  noble 
birth,  soldiers  of  fortune  who  had  served  in  various 
parts  of  the  world,  private  citizens  and  peaceful  ar 
tisans,  all  abandoned  their  homes  and  families,  sold 
their  effects,  and  offered  themselves  and  their  re 
sources  for  this  new  conquest. 

A  striking  account  is  given  us  of  the  arrival  of  a 
party  of  these  volunteers.  As  De  Soto  was  one  day 
in  the  gallery  of  his  house  at  Seville,  he  saw  a  bril 
liant  band  of  cavaliers  enter  the  court  yard,  and  has 
tened  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs  to  receive  them.  They 
were  Portuguese  hidalgos,  led  by  Andres  de  Vas- 
concelos  ;  several  of  them  had  served  in  the  wars 
with  the  Moors  on  the  African  frontiers,  and  they 
had  come  to  volunteer  their  services.  De  Soto  joy 
fully  accepted  their  offer.  He  detained  them  with 
him  to  supper,  and  ordered  his  steward  to  provide 
quarters  for  them  in  his  neighbourhood.  A  muster 
being  called  of  all  the  troops,  the  Spaniards  appear- 


34  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ed  in  splendid  and  showy  attire,  with  silken  doublets 
and  cassocks  pinked  and  embroidered.  The  Por 
tuguese,  on  the  contrary,  came  in  soldierlike  style, 
in  complete  armour.  De  Soto  was  vexed  at  the 
unseasonable  ostentation  of  his  countrymen,  and  or 
dered  another  review  in  which  all  should  appear 
armed.  Here  the  Portuguese  again  came  admira 
bly  well  equipped,  while  the  Spaniards,  who  had 
been  so  gaudy  in  their  silken  dresses,  made  but  a 
sorry  show  as  soldiers,  having  old  rusty  coats  of 
mail,  battered  head  pieces,  and  indifferent  lances. 
The  General,  it  is  said,  marked  his  preference  of  the 
Portuguese,  by  placing  them  near  his  standard.  It 
must  be  observed,  however,  that  this  account  is 
given  by  a  Portuguese  historian,  who  naturally  is 
disposed  to  give  his  countrymen  the  advantage  of 
the  Spaniards.  Other  accounts  speak  generally  of 
the  excellent  equipments  of  all  the  forces. 

In  little  more  than  a  year  from  the  time  of  the 
first  proclamation  of  this  enterprise,  nine  hundred 
and  fifty  Spaniards  of  all  degrees  had  assembled  in 
the  port  of  San  Lucar  de  Barrameda,  to  embark  in 
the  expedition.*  Never  had  a  more  gallant  and  bril 
liant  body  of  men  offered  themselves  for  the  new 

*  The  Portuguese  narrator  gives  six  hundred  as  the  number  of 
men  assembled,  but  we  follow  the  Inca  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega, 
whose  authority  is  corroborated  by  Herrera  and  others- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  35 

world.  Scarcely  one  among  them  had  grey  hairs, 
all  were  young  and  vigorous,  and  fitted  for  the  toils 
and  hardships  and  dangers  of  so  adventurous  an  un 
dertaking. 

De  Soto  was  munificent  in  his  proffers  of  pecunia 
ry  assistance  to  aid  the  cavaliers  in  fitting  themselves 
out  according  to  their  rank  and  station.  Many 
were  compelled,  through  necessity,  to  accept  of  his 
offers  ;  others,  who  had  means,  generously  declined 
them,  deeming  it  more  proper  that  they  should  as 
sist,  than  accept  aid  from  him  :  many  young  cava 
liers  came  equipped  in  splendid  style,  with  rich  ar 
mour,  costly  dresses,  and  a  train  of  domestics.  In 
deed,  some  young  men  of  quality  had  spent  a  great 
part  of  their  substance  in  this  manner. 

Nuno  Tobar,  Luis  de  Moscoso,  and  several  other 
cavaliers,  who  had  distinguished  themselves  in  the 
conquest  of  Peru,  expended  the  greater  part  of  their 
spoils  in  sumptuous  equipments.  Beside  the  cava 
liers  already  specified,  we  may  mention  three  bro 
thers,  relatives  of  the  Governor,  who  accompanied 
him  ;  Arias  Tinoco  and  Alonzo  Romo  de  Cardefio- 
sa,  both  captains  of  infantry,  and  Diego  Arias  Tino 
co,  who  was  standard  bearer  to  the  army. 

There  were  also  enlisted  in  the  enterprise  twelve 
priests,  eight  clergymen  of  inferior  rank,  and  four 
monks  ;  most  of  them  relatives  of  the  superior  offi- 


36  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

cers  :  for,  in  all  the  Spanish  expeditions  to  the  new 
world,  the  conversion  of  the  heathen  was  not  lost 
sight  of  in  the  rage  for  conquest. 

This  brilliant  armament  embarked  at  San  Lucar 
de  Barrameda,  on  the  sixth  of  April,  1538,  in  seven 
large  and  three  small  vessels.  In  the  largest, 
called  the  San  Christoval,  which  was  of  eight  hun 
dred  tons,  embarked  the  governor,  with  his  wife  Dona 
Isabel  de  Bobadilla,  and  all  his  family  and  retinue. 
They  set  sail  in  company  with  a  fleet  of  twenty  six 
sail  bound  to  Mexico,*  and  with  great  sound  of 
trumpets  and  thunder  of  artillery.  The  armament 
of  De  Soto  was  so  bountifully  supplied  with  naval 
stores,  that  each  man  was  allowed  double  rations. 
This  led  to  useless  waste ;  but  the  governor  was  of  a 
magnificent  spirit,  and  so  elated  at  finding  in  his  train 
such  noble  and  gallant  cavaliers,  that  he  thought  he 
could  not  do  enough  to  honour  and  gratify  them. 

On  the  twenty  first  of  April,  the  fleet  arrived  at 
Gomera,  one  of  the  Canary  Islands.  Here  they 
were  received  with  greaf  parade  and  courtesy  by 
the  Governor,  who  bore  the  title  of  Count  de  Go 
mera.  The  Count  seems  to  have  been  a  gay  and 
luxurious  cavalier,  with  somewhat  of  an  amato 
ry  complexion,  his  domestic  establishment  being- 
graced  by  several  natural  daughters.  When  he 
came  forth  to  receive  his  guests  he  was  dressed  in 

Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  4. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  37 

white  from  head  to  foot,  hat,  cloak,  doublet,  breeches 
and  shoes  ;  so  that,  according  to  the  old  Portuguese 
narrative,  he  looked  not  unlike  a  captain  of  a  gang  of 
gipsies.  During  three  days  that  the  fleet  remained 
in  the  port,  he  entertained  his  guests  in  jovial  style, 
with  feastings  and  rejoicings. 

Among  his  daughters  was  one  named  Leonora  de 
Bobadilla,  who  particularly  attracted  the  notice  of 
the  youthful  cavaliers.  She  was  not  more  than  se 
venteen  years  of  age,  and  extremely  beautiful.  De 
Soto  was  so  pleased  and  interested  with  her  ap 
pearance  and  manners,  that  he  entreated  the  Count 
to  permit  her  to  accompany  his  wife,  Dona  Isabel 
de  Bobadilla,  who  would  cherish  her  as  her  own 
daughter ;  intimating  that  he  would  procure  an  ad 
vantageous  match  for  her  among  the  noble  cavaliers 
of  his  army,  and  advance  her  to  rank  and  fortune 
in  the  country  he  should  conquer. 

The  Count  de  Gomera,  knowing  the  munificence 
of  De  Soto,  and  that  he  would  be  disposed  to  per 
form  even  more  than  he  promised,  confided  his 
daughter  to  his  care,  and  to  the  maternal  protection 
of  his  high  minded  and  virtuous  wife. 

On  the  24th  April  the  fleet  again  set  sail.  The 
voyage  was  fair  and  prosperous,  and  about  the  last 
of  May  they  arrived  in  the  harbour  of  the  city  of 
Santiago  de  Cuba. 


38 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Rejoicings  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cuba  on  the  arrival 
of  De  Soto.  Deposition  of  NuTio  Tobar.  Don 
Vasco  Porcallo  de  Figueroa,  appointed  Lieutenant 
General  of  the  forces. 

THE  arrival  of  a  new  Governor  with  so  important 
an  armament  was  an  event  of  great  joy  throughout 
the  island  of  Cuba.  When  De  Soto  landed,  the 
whole  city  of  Santiago  turned  out  to  receive  him. 
He  found  a  beautiful  horse,  richly  caparisoned,  wait 
ing  for  him,  and  likewise  a  mule  for  Donna  Isabella; 
which  were  furnished  by  a  gentleman  of  the  town. 
He  was  escorted  to  his  lodgings,  by  the  Burghers  on 
horse  and  on  foot,  and  all  his  officers  and  men  were 
hospitably  entertained  by  them  ;  some  being  quar 
tered  in  the  town,  and  others  in  their  country 
houses.*  For  several  days  it  was  one  continued  fes 
tival.  At  night  there  were  balls  and  masquerades  ; 
by  day,  tilting  matches,  bull  fights,  contests  of  skill 
in  horsemanship,  running  at  the  ring,  and  other 
amusements  of  a  chivalrous  nature. 

The  young  cavaliers  of  the  army,  vied  with  each 

*  Portuguese  relation,  c.  4. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  39 

other  and  with  the  youth  of  the  city  in  the  gallantry 
of  their  equipments,  the  elegance  and  novelty  of 
their  devices,  and  the  wit  and  ingenuity  of  their 
mottoes.  What  gave  peculiar  splendour  to  these 
entertainments  was  the  beauty  and  spirit,  and  excel 
lence  of  the  horses.  The  great  demand  for  these 
noble  animals,  for  the  conquests  of  Mexico  and  Peru, 
and  other  parts,  rendered  the  raising  of  them  one 
of  the  most  profitable  sources  of  speculation  in  the 
islands.  The  island  of  Cuba  was  naturally  favoura 
ble  to  them,  and  as  great  care  and  attention  had 
been  given  to  multiply  and  improve  the  breed,  there 
was  at  this  time  an  uncommon  number,  and  of  re 
markably  fine  qualities.  Many  individuals  had  from 
twenty  to  thirty  horses  in  their  stables,  and  some  of 
the  rich  had  twice  that  number  on  their  estates. 

The  cavaliers  of  the  army  had  spared  no  expense 
in  furnishing  themselves  with  the  most  superb  and 
generous  steeds  for  their  intended  expedition.  Many 
individuals  possessed  three  or  four,  caparisoned  in 
the  most  costly  manner  ;  and  the  Governor  aided 
liberally  with  his  purse,  such  as  had  not  the  means 
of  equipping  themselves  in  suitable  style. 

Thus  freshly  and  magnificently  mounted,  and  ar 
rayed  in  their  new  dresses  and  burnished  armour, 
the  young  cavaliers  made  a  brilliant  display,  and 
carried  off  many  of  the  prizes  of  gold,  and  silver, 


40  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

and  silks,  and  brocades,  which  were  adjudged  to 
those  who  distinguished  themselves  at  these  chival 
rous  games. 

In  these,  no  one  carried  off  the  prize  more  fre 
quently  than  Nuno  de  Tobar,  the  Lieutenant  Ge 
neral.  He  was,  as  has  been  said,  a  cavalier  of  high 
and  generous  qualities,  who  had  gained  laurels  in 
the  conquest  of  Peru.  He  appeared  on  these  occa 
sions  in  sumptuous  array,  mounted  on  a  superb 
horse,  of  a  silver  grey  dappled,  and  was  always 
noted  for  the  gracefulness  of  his  carriage,  his  noble 
demeanour,  and  his  admirable  address  in  the  ma 
nagement  of  lance  and  steed. 

Unfortunately  the  manly  qualifications  of  Nuno 
Tobar  had  procured  him  great  favour  in  the  eyes 
of  the  beautiful  Leonora  de  Bobadilla,  the  daughter 
of  the  Count  de  Gomera.  A  secret  amour  was 
carried  on  between  them,  and  the  virtue  of  the  la 
dy  was  not  proof  against  the  solicitations  of  her 
lover.* 

The  consequences  of  their  unfortunate  inter 
course  were  soon  too  apparent  to  be  concealed. 
De  Soto  was  incensed  at  what  he  considered  an 
outrage  upon  his  rights,  as  a  guardian  over  the  lady, 
and  his  confidence  as  a  friend.  He  immediately 

*  Portuguese  Narrative  of  Conq.  of  Florida,  c.  7. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  41 

deposed  Nuno  Tobar  from  his  station,  as  Lieutenant 
General ;  and,  though  that  really  generous  spirited 
cavalier  endeavoured  to  make  every  reparation  in 
his  power,  by  marrying  the  lady,  De  Soto  could 
never  afterwards  be  brought  to  look  upon  him  with 
kindness. 

At  this  time  there  was  on  a  visit  to  the  Governor 
in  the  city  of  Santiago,  a  cavalier,  upwards  of  fifty 
years  of  age,  named  Vasco  Porcallo  de  Figueroa. 
He  was  of  a  noble  family,  and  of  a  brave  and  gal- 
liard  disposition,  having  seen  much  hard  fighting  in 
the  Indies,  in  Spain  and  Italy,  and  distinguished 
himself  en  various  occasions.  He  now  resided  in 
the  town  of  Trinidad  in  Cuba,  living  opulently  and 
luxuriously  upon  the  wealth  he  had  gained  in  the 
wars,  honoured  for  his  exploits,  loved  for  his  so 
cial  qualities,  and  extolled  for  his  hearty  hospita 
lity. 

This  magnificent  cavalier  had  come  to  Santi 
ago  with  a  pompous  retinue,  to  pay  his  court  to  the 
Governor,  and  witness  the  festivities  and  rejoicings. 
He  passed  some  days  in  the  city,  and  when  he  be 
held  the  array  of  gallant  cavaliers  and  hardy  sol 
diers  assembled  for  the  enterprise,  the  splendour  of 
their  equipments,  and  the  martial  style  with  which 
they  acquitted  themselves  in  public,  his  military  spi 
rit  again  took  fire,  and  forgetting  his  years,  his  past 
4* 


42  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

toils  and  troubles  and  his  present  ease  and  opu 
lence,  he  volunteered  his  services  to  De  Soto, 
to  follow  him  in  his  anticipated  career  of  con 
quest. 

A  volunteer  of  such  military  experience,  ample 
wealth,  and  great  influence  in  the  island,  was  too 
important  not  to  be  received  with  open  arms ;  the 
Governor  immediately  made  him  Lieutenant  General 
of  the  army  ;  the  post  from  which  the  gallant  but 
unfortunate  Nuno  Tobar  had  recently  been  de 
posed. 

The  conduct  of  Vasco  Porcallo,  shewed  the  poli 
cy  of  this  appointment.  He  was  so  elated  with  this 
distinction,  that  he  lavished  his  money  without  stint 
in  purchasing  provisions  for  the  armada.  He  was 
magnificent  too  in  all  his  appointments,  camp  equi 
page,  armour  and  equipments,  having  caught  the 
gay  and  braggart  spirit  of  his  youthful  companions 
in  arms.  He  carried  with  him  a  great  train  of  Spa 
nish,  Indian  and  negro  servants,  and  a  stud  of  thirty 
six  horses  for  his  own  use  :  while  with  the  open 
handed  liberality  for  which  he  was  noted,  he  gave 
upwards  of  fifty  horses  as  presents  to  various  cava 
liers  of  the  army. 

The  example  of  this  generous  and  high  mettled, 
though  somewhat  whimsical  old  cavalier,  had  a 
powerful  effect  in  animating  the  inhabitants  of  Cu- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  43 

ba  to  promote  the  success  of  the  expedition,  and  in 
inducing  some  of  them  to  enrol  themselves  among 
the  followers  of  De  Soto.* 


*  The  Portuguese  narrator  dryly  asserts  that  Vasco  Porcallo 
engaged  in  the  expedition  merely  with  a  view  to  get  slaves  for 
his  estates  in  Cuba.  This  narrator,  however,  is  to  be  distrusted, 
when  he  assigns  motives  to  the  Spanish  leaders,  for  whom  he 
seems  to  have  entertained  a  national  jealousy.  I  have  preferred 
the  motives  attributed  by  the  Inca,  as  they  seem  borne  out  by  facts, 
and  by  the  general  conduct  of  this  veteran  Porcallo,  whose  charac 
ter  is  quite  Spanish  and  peculiar.  Indeed,  throughout  the  whole 
work  of  the  Inca,  his  rich  and  copious  facts  are  always  in  harmo 
ny  with  the  characteristics  of  his  persons. 


44 


CHAPTER  V. 

Juan  de  Anasco  twice  despatched  to  Florida.  His  nar 
row  escape  and  safe  return.  Final  preparations 
of  the  Governor. 

FOR  three  months  the  governor  made  a  tour  of 
the  island,  visiting  the  principal  towns,  appointing 
officers  of  justice  to  rule  in  his  absence,  purchasing 
horses,  and  making  other  provisions  for  his  expedi 
tion.  Towards  the  end  of  August,  he  repaired  to 
Havana,  where  he  was  afterwards  joined  by  his 
family  and  all  his  forces.  Here  he  remained  for  a 
time  aiding  the  inhabitants,  out  of  his  own  fortune, 
to  rebuild  their  houses  and  churches,  which  had  re 
cently  been  destroyed  by  French  corsairs. 

While  thus  occupied  he  twice  despatched  the 
Contador  Juan  de  Anasco,  in  a  brigantine  manned 
with  picked  sailors,  to  coast  the  shores  of  Florida, 
in  quest  of  some  commodious  harbour  to  which  the 
expedition  might  sail  direct,  and  find  secure  anchor 
age,  and  a  good  landing  place  for  the  troops. 

•  Juan  de  Anasco,  was  well  fitted  for  such  a  ser 
vice,  combining  the  sailor  with  the  soldier,  and  pos 
sessing  some  skill  in  nautical  science.  He  was  fond, 


CONQUEST   OF   FLORIDA.  45 

too,  of  hazardous  enterprise,  never  flinching  from 
toils  or  perils,  and  was  an  excellent  leader,  though 
somewhat  touchy  and  choleric. 

Three  months  elapsed  after  his  departure  on  his 
second  voyage,  without  any  tidings  of  him,  and 
great  fears  were  entertained  for  his  safety,  when  at 
length  his  tempest-tossed  bark  arrived  at  Havana. 

No  sooner  did  Juan  de  Anasco  and  his  crew  put 
foot  upon  land,  than  they  threw  themselves  on  their 
knees,  and  in  this  way  crawled  to  church  to  hear 
mass,  in  fulfilment  of  a  vow  made  in  an  hour  of  great 
peril.  When  this  was  done  they  related  all  the 
dangers  they  had  passed  on  sea  and  land  ;  having 
once  been  in  imminent  peril  of  foundering,  and 
having  passed  two  months  on  an  uninhabited  island, 
subsisting  on  shell  fish  gathered  along  the  beach, 
and  wild  fowl  knocked  down  with  clubs. 

Juan  de  Anasco,  however,  had  faithfully  fulfilled 
the  great  object  of  his  cruise,  having  found  a  secure 
harbour  on  the  coast  of  Florida.  He  brought  with 
him,  also,  four  of  the  natives  whom  he  had  captured, 
to  serve  as  interpreters  and  guides. 

All  his  forces  being  now  assembled  in  Havana, 
and  the  season  favourable  for  sailing  being  at  hand, 
the  Governor  made  his  final  arrangements,  appoint 
ing  his  wife  Dona  Isabel  de  Bobadilla  to  govern  the 
island  during  his  absence,  with  Juan  de  Roxas,  as 


46  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

lieutenant  governor,  and  Francisco  de  Guzman  as 
his  lieutenant,  in  the  city  of  Santiago.  These  two 
cavaliers  had  been  in  command  prior  to  his  arrival 
at  the  island,  and  had  proved  themselves  worthy  of 
this  great  mark  of  confidence.* 


*  The  Inca,  lib.  1,  c.  13. 

t  Portuguese  relation,  c.  vii.  Herrera.  D.  vi.  L.  7,  c,  9. 


47 


CHAPTER  VI. 

De  Soto  meets  with  an  old  comrade,  Hernan  Ponce — 
much  against  the  will  of  the  latter. 

WHILE  the  Governor  was  waiting  for  a  fair  wind 
to  embark  and  set  sail,  a  ship  was  seen  hovering  off 
the  port,  driven  there  by  stress  of  weather,  but  evi 
dently  endeavouring  to  keep  to  sea.  Three  times 
it  was  forced  to  the  mouth  of  the  harbour,  and  as 
often  fought  its  way  against  contrary  winds  to  the 
broad  ocean,  as  if  the  greatest  anxiety  of  the  crew 
was  to  avoid  the  port.  At  length,  after  struggling 
four  or  five  days  against  tempestuous  weather,  it 
was  compelled  to  come  to  anchor  in  the  harbour. 

This  ship  came  from  Nombre  de  Dios,  on  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  this  was  the  story  of  its 
singular  conduct.  On  board  of  it  was  Hernan 

o 

Ponce,  an  old  comrade  of  Hernando  De  Soto. 
They  had  sought  their  fortunes  together  in  Peru, 
and  when  De  Soto  left  that  country  for  a  time  to 
visit  Spain,  he  entered  into  articles  of  partnership, 
or  brotherhood,  as  it  was  called,  with  Hernan 
Ponce,  as  was  frequently  done  by  the  Spanish  dis- 


48  CONQUEST    OF   FLORIDA. 

coverers  and  soldiers  of  fortune  in  the  new  world. 
By  these  articles  they  bound  themselves,  during 
their  lives,  to  an  equal  participation  of  gains  and 
losses,  and  of  all  things,  whether  of  honour  or  profit. 

After  the  departure  of  De  Soto  for  Spain,  Her- 
nan  Ponce  had  amassed  much  wealth,  and  had  re 
covered  several  debts  which  De  Soto  had  left  with 
him  to  be  collected.  Having  turned  all  his  property 
into  gold  and  silver,  and  jewels  and  precious  stones, 
he  embarked  for  Spain,  but,  at  the  port  of  embar- 
cation,  heard  of  the  new  enterprise  of  his  old  com 
rade  De  Soto,  and  that  he  was  at  Havana  with  a 
great  and  expensive  armament  for  the  conquest  of 
Florida. 

Hernan  Ponce  had  no  ambition  of  joining  in 
the  conquest  ;  and  he  feared  that  De  Soto,  having 
expended  all  his  own  wealth  upon  hi*  outfits,  would 
claim  his  right  of  partnership  and  seek  to  share  the 
treasures  he  was  carrying  home,  if  not  to  grasp  the 
whole.  Hernan  Ponce,  therefore,  had  been  anxious 
to  steer  clear  of  the  port  of  Havana  and  to  pursue 
his  voyage,  and  had  made  large  offers  to  the  mari 
ners  to  induce  them  to  keep  to  sea,  but  tempestuous 
weather  had  absolutely  driven  them  into  port.  No 
sooner  did  Hernando  De  Soto  hear  of  the  arrival 
of  his  ancient  comrade  and  partner,  than  he  sent  per 
sons  on  board  to-compliment  and  congratulate  him 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  49 

upon  his  arrival,  and  to  invite  him  on  shore  to  share 
with  him  his  house,  his  possessions,  and  all  his 
honours  and  commands.  The  message  he  followed 
up  in  person,  repeating  all  his  congratulations  and 
offers. 

Hernan  Ponce  would  gladly  have  dispensed  with 
both  compliments  and  fraternity,  and  quaked  in  se 
cret  for  the  safety  of  his  treasures.  He  affected, 
however,  to  reciprocate  the  joy  and  good  will  of 
his  former  comrade,  but  excused  himself  from  land 
ing  until  the  following  day,  pleading  the  necessity 
of  sleep  and  repose  after  the  fatigues  of  the  late 
tempest.  De  Soto  left  him  to  his  repose,  but  sus 
pecting,  or  having  had  some  intimation  of  his  real 
circumstances  and  designs,  he  secretly  stationed 
sentinels  by  sea  and  by  land  to  keep  a  watch  upon 
the  movements  of  his  ancient  comrade.  His  pre 
cautions  were  not  in  vain.  Hernan  Ponce  about 
midnight  landed  two  coffers,  containing  all  his  gold, 
pearls,  and  precious  stones,  to  be  concealed  in 
some  hamlet,  or  buried  on  the  shore,  leaving  only 
the  silver  on  board,  to  keep  up  appearances,  intend 
ing  to  pass  it  off  on  his  partner  as  the  wrhole  of  his 
wealth. 

No  sooner  had  the  mariners  landed  the  coffers, 
and  conveyed  them  some  distance  from  the  boat, 
than  a  party  of  sentinels  rushed  out  from  a  thicket, 
5 


50  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

put  them  to  flight,  and  seized  upon  the  treasure, 
which  they  conveyed  in  safety  to  the  Governor. 

The  confusion  and  distress  of  Hernan  Ponce,  at 
thus  losing  his  beloved  treasure  by  a  measure  in 
tended  for  its  safety,  may  easily  be  imagined.  He 
landed  the  next  day  with  a  sorrowful  countenance, 
and  took  up  his  abode  with  De  Soto. 

In  the  course  of  their  private  conversation,  he 
soon  revealed  the  misfortune  of  the  preceding  night. 
De  Soto  had  been  waiting  for  the  occasion,  and 
now  broke  forth  indignantly,  reproaching  him  with 
having  attempted  to  conceal  his  treasures,  through 
want  of  faith  in  his  justice  and  friendship.  To  show 
how  groundless  had  been  his  distrust,  he  now  order 
ed  the  coffers  to  be  brought  in,  and  requested  him  to 
open  them  and  see  if  any  thing  were  missing. 

He  furthermore  declared  that  all  he  had  expended 
in  his  present  undertaking,  and  all  the  titles,  com 
mands,  and  privileges  he  had  obtained  from  the 
crown,  he  had  considered  as  for  their  mutual  bene 
fit,  according  to  their  terms  of  co-partnership  and 
fraternity;  as  he  could  prove  by  witnesses  then 
with  him,  who  had  been  present  at  the  execution  of 
the  writings.  He  now  offered,  whether  he  chose 
to  accompany  him  in  his  conquest  or  not,  to  share 
with  him  his  titles  and  commands,  or  to  yield  to 
him  such  of  them  as  he  might  prefer. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  51 

Hernan  Ponce  was  confounded  as  much  by  the 
overwhelming  courtesy  of  the  Governor,  as  by  a 
sense  of  his  own  delinquency  ;  but  his  heart  yearn 
ed  more  after  his  own  treasures  than  after  all  De 
Soto's  anticipated  conquests.  He  excused  himself 
as  well  as  he  could  for  the  past,  pretended  to  be 
highly  gratified  at  being  still  considered  partner 
and  brother,  but  declined  all  participation  in  De 
Soto's  titles.  He  begged  that  their  writings  of  co 
partnership  might  be  renewed  and  made  public, 
and  that  his  Excellency  would  proceed  with  his  con 
quest  ;  while  he  returned  to  Spain,  leaving  to  some 
future  occasion  the  division  of  all  their  gains.  To 
testify  his  acceptence  of  one  half  of  the  conquest, 
he  entreated  his  Excellency  to  permit  his  wife 
Dona  Isabel  de  Bobadilla,  to  receive  from  him  ten 
thousand  dollars  in  gold  and  silver,  to  aid  in  the  ex 
penses  of  the  expedition  ;  being  the  half  of  what  he 
had  brought  from  Peru. 

De  Soto  granted  his  prayer;  the  ten  thousand 
dollars  were  paid  into  the  hands  of  Dona  Isabel,  the 
articles  of  co-partnership  were  renewed,  and  dur 
ing  the  whole  stay  of  Hernan  Ponce  at  Havana,  he 
was  always  addressed  as  his  Excellency,  and  re 
ceived  the  same  personal  honours  as  the  Governor. 

The  heart  of  Hernan  Ponce,  however,  rested 
with  his  money  bags,  and  delighted  not  in  these 


52  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

empty  honours.  Under  various  pretexts,  he  deferred 
sailing  for  Spain  until  after  the  embarcation  and  de 
parture  of  De  Soto  and  his  army  for  Florida. 
Eight  days  after  the  Governor  had  sailed,  and  when 
there  was  no  longer  a  likelihood  of  his  prompt  re 
turn,  Hernan  Ponce  addressed  an  instrument  in 
writing  to  Juan  de  Rojas,  the  Lieutenant-Governor, 
declaring  that  the  ten  thousand  dollars  given  to  Her- 
nando  de  Soto,  had  not  been  paid  as  a  just  debt, 
but  extorted  through  fear  lest  he  should  make  use 
of  his  power  to  strip  him  of  all  his  property.  He 
begged,  therefore,  that  Dona  Isabel  de  Bobadilla 
might  be  compelled  to  refund  them,  otherwise  he 
should  complain  to  the  Emperor  of  the  injustice 
with  which  he  had  been  treated. 

When  Dona  Isabel  heard  of  this  claim,  she  im 
mediately  replied  that  there  were  many  accounts 
both  new  and  old  to  be  settled  between  Hernan 
Ponce  and  her  husband,  as  would  be  seen  by  the 
writings  of  their  co-partnership.  That  by  those 
same  writings  it  would  also  appear  that  Hernan 
Ponce  owed  her  husband  more  than  fifty  thousand 
ducats,  being  the  half  of  the  amount  expended  in 
the  outfit  for  the  conquest.  She  demanded,  there 
fore,  that  Hernan  Ponce  should  be  arrested  and  held 
in  safety  until  all  these  accounts  could  be  examined 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  53 

and  adjusted,  which  she  offered  immediately  to  at 
tend  to,  in  the  name  of  her  husband. 

Hernan  Ponce  obtained  a  hint  of  the  new  troubles 
preparing  for  him,  and  fearing,  should  he  fall  into 
the  hands  of  justice,  he  would  meet  with  but  little 
mercy,  he  hoisted  sail  before  the  harpies  of  the  law 
could  get  hold  of  him,  and  made  the  best  of  his  way 
to  Spain,  leaving  his  ten  thousand  dollars  and  all 
the  unsettled  accounts  in  the  hands  of  Dona  Isabel.* 
Having  thus  disposed  of  this  episode,  we  will  step 
back  eight  days  in  our  chronology,  to  relate  the  sail 
ing  of. the  expedition  for  Florida. 

*  Hist,  of  Florida  per  el  Inca.  Lib.  1.  c.  14, 15. 

5'  -   '    - 


54 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  armament  sets  sail  from  Cuba.  Arrival  and  Land 
ing  in  Florida.  Exploit  of  Vasco  Porcallo. 
They  come  upon  the  first  traces  of  Pamphilo  de 
Narvaez. 

On  the  12th  May  1539,Hernando  de  Soto  sailed 
from  Havana  on  his  great  enterprise.  His  squa 
dron  consisted  of  eight  large  vessels,  a  caravel,  and 
two  brigantines,  all  freighted  with  ample  means  of 
conquest  and  colonization.  In  addition  to  the  forces 
brought  from  Spain,  he  had  been  joined  by  many 
volunteers,  and  recruits  in  Cuba,  so  that  his  arma 
ment,  beside  the  ships'  crews,  amounted  to  a 
thousand  men,  and  there  were  three  hundred  and 
fifty  horses.  It  was  altogether  the  most  splendid 
expedition  that  had  yet  set  out  for  the  new  world. 

The  prevalence  of  contrary  winds  kept  the  squa 
dron  tossing  about,  for  several  days,  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  At  length,  on  Whitsunday,  the  twenty 
fifth  day  of  May,  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  a 
deep  bay,  to  which,  in  honour  of  the  day,  De  Soto 
gave  the  name  of  Espiritu  Santo,  which  it  still  re 
tains. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  55 

They  had  scarce  arrived  on  the  coast,  when  they 
beheld  bale  fires  blazing  along  the  shores,  and  co 
lumns  of  smoke  rising  in  different  directions.  It 
was  evident  the  natives  had  taken  the  alarm,  and 
were  summoning  their  warriors  to  assemble.  De 
Soto  was  cautious,  therefore,  as  to  debarking  his 
troops,  and  remained  several  days  on  board  ;  sound 
ing  the  harbour,  and  seeking  a  secure  landing  place. 
In  the  mean  time  a  boat  was  sent  on  shore  to  pro 
cure  grass  for  the  horses.  The  sailors  brought  off 
also,  a  quantity  of  green  grapes,  resembling  those 
of  Spain,  which  had  been  found  growing  wild  in  the 
woods.  They  were  of  a  kind  different  from  any 
that  the  Spaniards  had  seen  either  in  Mexico  or 
Peru,  and  they  regarded  them  with  exultation  as 
proofs  of  a  fruitful  and  pleasant  country. 

At  length,  on  the  last  day  of  the  month,  a  detach 
ment  of  three  hundred  soldiers  were  landed,  and 
took  formal  possession  of  the  country,  in  name  of 
Charles  V.  Not  a  single  Indian  was  to  be  seen, 
and  the  troops  remained  all  night  on  shore,  in  a 
state  of  careless  security.  Towards  the  dawn  of 
day,  however,  an  immense  number  of  savages 
broke  suddenly  upon  them  with  deafening  yells ;  se 
veral  of  the  Spaniards  were  wounded  with  arrows, 
many  were  seized  with  panic,  as  new  levied  troops 
are  apt  to  be  in  their  first  encounter,  especially 


56  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

when  in  a  strange  land  and  assailed  by  strange  foes. 
They  retreated  to  the  edge  of  the  sea  in  great  con* 
fusion,  crowding  together  so  as  to  prevent  each 
other  from  fighting  to  advantage,  and  sounding  the 
alarm  with  drum  and  trumpet. 

The  din  of  the  tumult  was  heard  on  board  the 
fleet.  The  late  seemingly  lifeless  hulks  were  im 
mediately  as  busy  as  a  hive  of  bees,  when  their  re 
public  is  invaded  :  armour  was  buckled  on  in  haste, 
and  a  reinforcement  quickly  landed.  The  Lieuten 
ant  General  Vasco  Porcallo,  with  seven  horsemen, 
took  the  lead,  not  a  little  pleased  with  having  so 
early  an  opportunity  of  displaying  his  prowess. 
Dashing  his  spurs  into  his  horse,  and  brandishing  his 
lance,  he  charged  upon  the  savages,  who  made  but 
slight  resistance,  and  fled.  He  pursued  them  for 
some  distance,  and  then  returned  highly  elated  with 
this  first  snuff  of  battle. 

Scarcely  had  he  reached  the  camp,  however, 
when  his  horse  staggered  under  him  and  fell  dead, 
having  been  wounded  by  an  arrow  in  the  course  ot 
the  skirmish.  The  shaft  had  been  sent  with  such 
force  as  to  pass  through  the  saddle  and  its  housings, 
and  to  bury  itself,  one  third  of  its  length,  between 
the  ribs  of  the  horse.  Vasco  Porcallo  rose  trium 
phant  from  his  fall,  vaunting  that  the  first  horse  that 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  5? 

had  fallen  in  this  expedition  was  his,  and  his  the  first 
lance  raised  against  the  infidels. 

The  remainder  of  the  troops  were  now  disem 
barked  and  encamped  on  the  borders  of  the  bay, 
where  they  remained  a  few  days  reposing  after  the 
fatigues  of  the  sea.  They  then  marched  to  a  vil 
lage  situated  about  two  leagues  distant ;  while  the 
ships  being  lightened  by  the  landing  of  the  troops, 
were  enabled  with  the  aid  of  the  tide,  to  take  their 
station  opposite. 

The  village  was  deserted  by  the  inhabitants.  It 
consisted  of  several  largo  houses,  built  of  wood  and 
thatched  with  palm  leaves.  At  one  end  stood  a 
kind  of  temple,  with  the  image  of  a  bird  on  top, 
made  of  wood,  with  gilded  eyes.  In  this  edifice 
were  found  strings  of  pearls  of  small  value,  having 
been  injured  by  the  fire,  in  boring  them  for  neck 
laces  and  bracelets. 

In  an  opposite  quarter  of  the  village  upon  an  ar 
tificial  eminence,  near  the  shore,  so  constructed  a 
to  serve  as  a  fortress,  stood  the  dwelling  of  the  Ca 
cique.  Here  the  governor  took  up  his  residence, 
with  his  Lieutenant,  the  veteran  Porcallo,  and  his 
camp  master  Luis  de  Moscoso.  The  other  houses 
were  converted  into  barracks  for  the  troops,  and 
store-houses  for  the  provisions  and  ammunition 
brought  on  shore  from  the  vessels.  The  trees  and 


58  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

bushes  were  cleared  away,  for  the  distance  of  a 
bow-shot  round  the  village,  so  as  to  give  room  for 
the  cavalry  to  act  and  to  guard  against  sudden  sur 
prise  in  the  night  time.  Sentinels  also  were  placed 
at  every  point,  and  parties  of  horsemen  patrolled 
the  neighbourhood. 

The  governor  at  length  succeeded  in  capturing  a 
few  straggling  Indians,  natives  of  the  place,  from 
whom  he  learned  the  cause  of  the  fierce  hostility  of 
their  countrymen,  and  their  desertion  of  the  village. 
Here  it  was  that  he  first  came  upon  the  traces  of  his 
predecessor,  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  and  unfortu 
nately  they  were  of  a  cruel  character.  Narvaez  in 
his  expedition  to  Florida  had  been  bravely  opposed 
by  the  Cacique  of  this  village,  whose  name  was  Hir- 
rihigua.*  He  succeeded,  at  length,  in  winning  his 
friendship,  and  a  treaty  was  formed  betwen  them. 
Subsequently,  however,  Narvaez  became  enraged 
at  the  cacique  for  some  unknown  reason,  and  in  a 

*  We  give  this  name  according  to  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega :  the 
Portuguese  narrator  calls  the  Cacique  Ucita.  These  two  authori 
ties  often  differ  as  to  Indian  names.  Sometimes  they  merely  vary 
in  the  spelling,  as  is  natural  where  the  names  were  caught  by  ear, 
and  did  not  originally  exist  in  writing.  At  other  times  they  differ 
entirely ;  one  narrator  having  probably  heard  a  village  and  pro 
vince  called  by  its  proper  and  permanent  name,  the  other  by  the 
name  of  its  cacique.  These  discrepancies  are  common  and  una 
voidable,  in  the  narratives  of  adventurers  among  savage  tribes, 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  59 

transport  of  passion  had  ordered  his  nose  to  be  cut 
off,  and  his  mother  to  be  torn  to  pieces  by  dogs. 
These  merciless  wrongs,  as  may  well  be  supposed, 
had  filled  the  heart  of  Hirrihigua  with  the  bitterest 
hatred  of  the  white  men. 

De  Soto,  having  heard  this  story,  endeavoured  to 
appease  the  cacique  and  to  gain  his  friendship.  For 
this  purpose,  he  treated  his  subjects,  whom  he  had 
captured,  in  the  kindest  manner,  and  sent  them,  la 
den  with  presents,  to  seek  their  chieftain  in  his  re 
treat,  and  invite  him  to  amicable  intercourse.  The 
Cacique  was  indignant  at  his  subjects  for  daring  to 
bring  him  messages  from  a  race  who  had  injured 
and  insulted  him  so  deeply.  "  I  want  none  of  their 
speeches  nor  promises,"  said  he,  bitterly,  "  bring 
me  their  heads,  and  I  will  receive  them  joyfully." 

De  Soto  was  reluctant  to  leave  so  powerful  a  foe 
between  himself  and  his  ships,  and  endeavoured,  by 
repeated  envoys  to  soften  the  animosity  of  the  ca- 

whose  language  is  unwritten  and  but  little  understood.  Where 
irreconcilable  differences  occur,  we  are  generally  inclined  to  fol 
low  the  Inca,  as  he  received  his  facts  from  three  different  mem 
bers  of  the  expedition,  one  a  gentleman  of  rank,  the  other  two, 
private  soldiers  ;  whereas  the  Portuguese  account  has  merely  the 
authority  of  a  single  witness.  The  account  of  the  transactions 
on  landing  are  chiefly  taken  from  the  Inca,  and  occasionally  from 
the  Portuguese  Narrative. 


60  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

cique :  but  every  message  only  provoked  a  more 
bitter  and  scornful  reply. 

While  thus  negotiating  with  this  vindictive  sa 
vage,  he  received  intelligence  that  there  was  a  Spa 
niard,  a  surviver  of  the  followers  of  Pamphilo  de 
Narvaez,  living  under  the  protection  of  a  neighbour 
ing  Cacique  called  Mucozo.*  To  obtain  the  ser 
vices  of  this  Spaniard  was  now  a  matter  of  great 
moment,  for,  having  lived  upwards  of  ten  years  in 
the  country,  and  become  acquainted  with  the  lan 
guage  and  customs  of  the  natives,  he  was  well  fitted 
to  act  as  guide,  interpreter,  and  negotiator.  He  ac 
cordingly  despatched  the  brave  and  trusty  Baltasar 
de  Gallegos,  the  chief  Alguazil,  at  the  head  of  sixty 
lances,  and  under  the  guidance  of  a  native  Indian, 
on  an  embassy  to  the  Cacique  Mucozo,  to  obtain  the 
release  of  the  Spaniard,  and  to  invite  the  chieftain 
to  the  camp,  with  assurances  of  great  friendship  and 
munificent  rewards. 

As  this  Spaniard  was  subsequently  of  great  ser 
vice  throughout  the  expedition,  and  as  his  story  is  il 
lustrative  of  the  character  and  customs  of  the  na 
tives,  and  of  the  implacable  resentment  of  the  ca 
cique  Hirrihigua,  we  will  diverge  for  a  moment 
from  the  main  course  of  our  narrative,  to  relate 
some  particulars  of  his  adventures. 

*  Mocoso.     Portuguese  Narrative. 


61 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Story  of  Juan  Ortiz. 

SHORTLY  after  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  had  left  the 
village  of  Hirrihigua  on  his  disastrous  march  into 
the  interior,  a  small  vessel  of  his  fleet  which  was  in 
quest  of  him,  put  into  the  bay  of  Espiritu  Santo. 
Anchoring  before  the  town,  they  saw  a  few  Indians 
on  the  shore,  who  made  signs  for  them  to  land, 
pointing  to  a  letter  in  the  end  of  a  cleft  reed,  stuck 
in  the  ground.  The  Spaniards  supposed,  and  pro 
bably  with  justice,  that  it  was  a  letter  of  instruction 
left  by  Narvaez,  giving  information  of  his  move 
ments  and  destination.  They  made  signs  for  the 
Indians  to  bring  it  to  them.  The  latter,  however,  re 
fused,  but  getting  into  a  canoe  came  on  board,  where 
four  of  them  offered  to  remain  as  hostages  for  such 
Spaniards  as  chose  to  go  on  shore  for  the  letter. 
Upon  this  four  Spaniards  stepped  into  the  canoe  and 
were  swiftly  conveyed  to  shore.  The  moment  they 
landed,  a  multitude  of  savages  rushed  out  of  the  vil 
lage  and  surrounded  them,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
the  hostages  on  board  plunged  into  the  sea  and 
6 


62  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

swam  on  shore.  The  crew  of  the  vessel,  seeing  the 
number  of  the  enemy,  and  dreading  some  further 
mishap,  made  sail  with  all  haste,  abandoning  their 
luckless  comrades  to  their  fate.* 

The  captives  were  conveyed  with  savage  triumph 
into  the  village  of  Hirrihigua  ;  for  the  whole  had 
been  a  stratagem  of  the  Cacique,  to  get  some  of  the 
white  men  into  his  power,  upon  whom  he  might 
wreak  his  vengeance.  He  placed  his  prisoners  un 
der  a  strong  guard,  until  a  day  of  religious  festival. 
They  were  then  stripped  naked,  led  out  into  the 
public  square  of  the  village  and  turned  loose,  one 
at  a  time,  to  be  shot  at  with  arrows.  To  prolong 
their  misery  and  the  enjoyment  of  their  tormentors, 
but  one  Indian  was  allowed  to  shoot  at  a  time.  In 
this  way  the  first  three  were  sacrificed,  and  the  Ca 
cique  took  a  vindictive  pleasure  in  beholding  them, 
running  in  their  agony  from  corner  to  corner,  vainly 
seeking  an  asylum  in  every  nook,  until  after  repeat 
ed  wounds  they  were  shot  to  death. 

Juan  Ortiz,  a  youth,  scarce  eighteen  years  of  age, 
of  a  noble  family  of  Seville,  was  the  fourth  victim. 
As  they  were  leading  him  forth,  his  extreme  youth 
touched  with  compassion  the  hearts  of  the  wife  and 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega.  Part  1.  L.  2.  c.  1. 
Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  9. 
Herrera.  D.  6.  L.  7.  c.  10. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  63 

daughters  of  the  Cacique,  who  interceded  in  his  fa 
vour. 

The  Cacique  listened  to  their  importunities,  and 
granted  for  the  present  the  life  of  Ortiz ; — but  a 
wretched  life  did  he  lead.  From  morning  until 
evening  he  was  employed  in  bringing  wood  and 
water,  and  was  allowed  but  little  sleep  and  scanty 
food.  Not  a  day  passed  that  he  was  not  beaten. 
On  festivals  he  was  an  object  of  barbarous  amuse 
ment  to  the  Cacique,  who  would  oblige  him  to  run, 
from  sunrise  until  sunset,  in  the  public  square  of  the 
village,  where  his  companions  had  met  their  untimely 
end  ;  Indians  being  stationed  with  bows  and  arrows, 
to  shoot  him,  should  he  halt  one  moment.  When 
the  day  was  spent,  the  unfortunate  youth  lay  stretch 
ed  on  the  hard  floor  of  the  hut,  more  dead  than 
alive.  At  such  times  the  wife  and  daughters  of  the 
Cacique  would  come  to  him  privately  with  food 
and  clothing,  and  by  their  kind  treatment  his  life 
was  preserved. 

At  length  the  Cacique  determining  to  put  an 
end  to  his  victim's  existence,  ordered,  that  he  should 
be  bound  down  upon  a  wooden  frame,  in  the  form 
of  a  huge  gridiron,  placed  in  the  public  square,  over 
a  bed  of  live  coals,  and  roasted  alive. 

The  cries  and  shrieks  of  the  poor  youth  reached 
his  female  protectors,  and  their  entreaties  were  once 


64  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

more  successful  with  the  Cacique.  They  unbound 
Ortiz,  dragged  him  from  the  fire,  and  took  him  to 
their  dwelling,  where  they  bathed  him  with  the 
juice  of  herbs,  and  tended  him  with  assiduous  care. 
After  many  days  he  recovered  from  his  wounds, 
though  marked  with  many  a  scar. 

His  employment  was  now  to  guard  the  cemetery 
of  the  village.  This  was  in  a  lonely  field  in  the 
bosom  of  a  forest.  The  bodies  of  the  dead  were 
deposited  in  wooden  boxes,  covered  with  boards, 
without  any  fastening  except  a  stone  or  a  log  of 
wood  laid  upon  the  top  ;  so  that  the  bodies  were 
often  carried  away  by  wild  beasts. 

In  this  cemetery  was  Ortiz  stationed  with  a  bow 
and  arrows,  to  watch  day  and  night,  and  was  told 
that  should  a  single  body  be  carried  away,  he  would 
be  burnt  alive.  He  returned  thanks  to  God  for 
having  freed  him  from  the  dreaded  presence  of  the 
Cacique,  hoping  to  lead  a  better  life  with  the  dead 
than  he  had  done  with  the  living. 

While  watching  thus  one  long  wearisome  night, 
sleep  overpowered  him  towards  morning.  He  was 
awakened  by  the  falling  lid  of  one  of  the  chests,  and, 
running  to  it  found  it  empty.  It  had  contained  the 
body  of  an  infant  recently  deceased,  the  child  of  an 
Indian  of  great  note. 

Ortiz  doubted  not  some  animal  had  dragged  it 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  ^    05 

away,  and  immediately  set  out  in  pursuit.  After 
wandering  for  some  time,  he  heard,  a  short  distance 
within  the  woods,  a  noise  like  that  of  a  dog  gnaw 
ing  bones.  Warily  drawing  near  to  the  spot,  he 
dimly  perceived  an  animal  among  the  bushes,  and 
invoking  succour  from  on  high,  let  fly  an  arrow  at 
it.  The  thick  and  tangled  underwood  prevented 
his  seeing  the  effect  of  his  shot,  but  as  the  animal 
did  not  stir  he  flattered  himself  that  it  had  been  fatal ; 
with  this  hope  he  waited  until  the  day  dawned, 
when  he  beheld  his  victim,  a  huge  animal  of  the 
panther  kind,*  lying  dead,  the  arrow  having  passed 
through  his  entrails  and  cleft  his  heart. 

Gathering  together  the  mangled  remains  of  the 
infant,  and  replacing  them  in  the  coffin,  Ortiz 
dragged  his  victim  in  triumph  to  the  village,  with 
the  arrow  still  in  his  body.  The  exploit  gained  him 
credit  with  the  old  hunters,  and  for  some  time  sof 
tened  even  the  ferocity  of  the  Cacique.  The  resent 
ment  of  the  latter,  however,  for  the  wrongs  he  had 
suffered  from  white  men,  was  too  bitter  to  be  ap 
peased.  Some  time  after,  his  eldest  daughter  came 
to  Ortiz,  and  warned  him  that  her  father  had  deter 
mined  to  sacrifice  him  at  the  next  festival,  which 
was  just  at  hand,  and  that  the  influence  of  her  mo- 

•*  The  Inca  calls  this  animal  a  Lion,  as  the  Spanish  discoverers 
were  prone  to  call  animals  of  the  Tiger  or  Panther  kind. 
6* 


66  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ther,  her  sisters  and  herself  would  no  longer  avail 
him.  She  wished  him,  therefore,  to  take  refuge 
with  a  neighbouring  Cacique  named  Mucozo,  who 
loved  her  and  sought  her  in  marriage,  and  who,  for 
her  sake,  would  befriend  him.  "  This  very  night 
at  midnight"  said  the  kind-hearted  maiden,  "  at  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  village  you  will  find  a 
trusty  friend  who  will  guide  you  to  a  bridge, 
about  two  leagues  hence ;  on  arriving  there,  you 
must  send  him  back,  that  he  may  reach  home  be 
fore  the  morning  dawn,  to  avoid  suspicion — for  well 
he  knows  that  this  bold  act,  in  daring  to  assist  you, 
may  bring  down  destruction  upon  us  both.  Six 
leagues  further  on,  you  will  come  to  the  village  of 
Mucozo — tell  him  that  I  have  sent  you,  and  expect 
him  to  befriend  you  in  your  extremity — I  know 
he  will  do  it — go,  and  may  ^our  God  protect  you  !" 
Ortiz  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  his  generous  pro 
tectress  and  poured  out  his  acknowledgments  for 
the  kindness  she  had  always  shown  him.  The  In 
dian  guide  was  at  the  place  appointed,  and  they  left 
the  village  without  alarming  the  warlike  savages. 
When  they  came  to  the  bridge,  Ortiz  sent  back  the 
guide,  in  obedience  to  the  injunction  of  his  mistress, 
and,  continuing  his  flight,  found  himself,  by  break  of 
day,  on  the  banks  of  a  small  stream  near  the  village 
of  Mucozo. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  67 

Looking  cautiously  round,  he  espied  two  Indians 
fishing.  As  he  was  unacquainted  with  their  lan 
guage,  and  could  not  explain  the  cause  of  his  coming, 
he  was  in  dread  lest  they  should  take  him  for  an 
enemy  and  kill  him.  He,  therefore,  ran  swiftly  to 
the  place  where  they  had  deposited  their  weapons 
and  seized  upon  them.  The  savages  fled  to  the 
village  without  attending  to  his  assurances  of  friendly 
intention.  The  inhabitants  sallied  out  armed  with 
bows  and  arrows,  and  made  show  as  though  they 
would  attack  him.  Ortiz  fixed  an  arrow  in  his  bow 
and  prepared  for  defence,  but  cried  out  at  the  same 
moment,  that  he  came  not  as  an  enemy  but  as  an 
ambassador  from  a  female  Cacique  to  their  chief. 
Fortunately  one  present  understood  him,  and  inter 
preted  his  words.  On  this  the  Indians  unbent  their 
bows,  and  returning  with  him  to  their  village,  pre 
sented  him  to  Mucozo.  The  latter,  a  youthful  chief 
tain,  of  a  graceful  form  and  handsome  countenance, 
received  Ortiz  kindly  for  the  sake  of  her  who  had 
sent  him  ;  but,  on  further  acquaintance,  became  at 
tached  to  him  for  his  own  merits,  treating  him  with 
the  affection  of  a  brother. 

Hirrihigua  soon  heard  where  the  fugitive  had 
taken  refuge,  and  demanded  several  times  that  he 
should  be  delivered  up  ;  Mucozo  as  often  declined  ; 
considering  himself  bound  by  the  laws  of  honour  and 


68  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

hospitality  to  protect  him.  Hirrihigua  then  em 
ployed  as  mediator  another  Cacique,  a  brother-in- 
law  of  Mucozo,  by  the  name  of  Urribarracuxi,  who 
went  in  person  to  demand  Ortiz.  The  generous 
Mucozo,  however,  indignantly  refused  to  deliver  up 
to  a  cruel  enemy,  the  poor  fugitive  who  had  come 
recommended  to  his  protection,  and  treated  the 
very  request  as  a  stain  upon  his  honour.  The  two 
Caciques  continued  their  importunities,  but  the  high 
minded  savage  remained  faithful  to  his  guest,  though 
in  maintaining  inviolate  the  sacred  rites  of  hospi 
tality,  he  lost  the  friendship  of  his  brother-in-law, 
and  forfeited  the  hand  of  her  he  tenderly  loved,  the 
beautiful  daughter  of  Hirrihigua. 


69 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Baltazar  de  Gallegos  despatched  in  search  of  Juan 
Ortiz.  The  Cacique  Mucozo,  and  afterwards  his 
mother,  visit  the  Spanish  camp. 

1539.  AT  this  juncture  tidings  reached  Mucozo 
of  the  arrival  of  De  Soto  and  his  troops  at  the  village 
of  Hirrihigua,  and  that  it  was  their  intention  to  con 
quer  the  country.  The  cacique,  alarmed  at  this  in 
telligence,  addressed  himself  to  Ortiz.  "  You  well 
know,"  said  he,  "  what  I  have  done  for  you ;  that  I 
have  sheltered  you  when  friendless,  and  have  chosen 
rather  to  fall  into  disgrace  with  my  relations  and 
neighbours,  than  deliver  you  into  the  hands  of  your 
enemies.  This  I  have  done  without  thought  or  hope 
of  reward,  but  the  time  has  come  when  you  can  re 
pay  me  for  my  friendship.  Go  to  the  chieftain  of 
this  army  of  white  men  that  has  arrived — represent 
to  him  the  asylum  I  have  extended  to  you,  and 
which,  in  like  case,  I  \vould  have  afforded  to  any  of 
your  countrymen — entreat  him,  in  return,  not  to  lay 
waste  my  small  territory,  and  assure  him  that  I  and 
mine  are  ready  to  devote  ourselves  to  his  service." 

Ortiz  gladly  departed  on  the  mission,  accompa- 


70  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

nied  by  fifty  chosen  warriors.  It  happened  that 
about  the  same  time  Baltazar  de  Gallegos  had  been 
despatched,  as  has  been  already  mentioned,  on  his 
embassy  to  Mucozo.  . 

As  Ortiz  and  his  Indian  escort,  therefore,  were 
on  their  way  to  the  village  of  Hirrihigua,  they  came 
in  sight  of  Baltazar,  and  his  band  of  lancers,  glisten 
ing  at  a  distance,  in  the  midst  of  a  verdant  plain, 
skirted  by  a  wood. 

The  Indians  would  have  concealed  themselves 
in  the  forest,  until  the  Christians  could  be  informed 
that  they  were  friends  ;  but  Ortiz  slighted  their  ad 
vice,  insisting  that  his  countrymen  would  at  once 
recognise  him :  not  reflecting  that  in  appearance  he 
was  in  no  wise  different  from  his  savage  companions, 
being  like  them  almost  naked,  his  body  browned  by 
exposure  to  the  sun,  his  arms  painted,  a  quiver  at 
his  back,  a  bow  and  arrow  in  his  hand,  and  his  head 
adorned  with  feathers. 

No  sooner  did  the  Spaniards  descry  the  savages, 
than  they  came  down  upon  them  at  full  gallop, 
heedless  of  the  voice  of  their  captain  ;  for  they 
were  newly  raised  soldiers,  full  of  spirit,  and  eager 
for  a  brush  with  the  natives. 

The  Indians  seeing  their  furious  approach,  fled 
terrified  to  the  wood.  One  of  their  number,  how 
ever,  being  bewildered,  or  possessing  more  courage 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  71 

than  the  rest,  loitered  behind.  He  was  pursued  by 
a  Spaniard,  and  before  he  could  attain  the  shelter  of 
the  adjacent  thicket,  was  overtaken  by  the  trooper's 
lance.  Juan  Ortiz  was  assaulted  by  Alvaro  Nieto, 
one  of  the  stoutest  and  boldest  troopers  in  the  army, 
who  charged  upon  him  full  tilt  with  his  lance. 
Ortiz  parried  the  thrust  with  his  bow,  running  at 
the  same  time,  and  leaping  from  side  to  side  with 
great  agility  to  avoid  the  horse,  crying  out  lustily 
Xivilla,Xivilla — meaning  Seville,  Seville  ;  and  mak 
ing  the  sign  of  the  cross  with  his  arm  and  bow,  to 
signify  that  he  was  a  Christian. 

Alvaro  Nieto  hearing  him  cry  out  Xivilla,  demand 
ed  of  him  whether  he  was  Juan  Ortiz.  On  his  re 
plying  in  the  affirmative,  he  seized  him  by  the  arm, 
lifted  him  upon  the  croup  of  his  saddle,  and  scoured 
away  with  him  over  the  plain  to  present  him  to 
Baltazar  de  Gallegos.  The  captain  received  him 
with  great  joy,  and  ordered  his  troopers  to  be  im 
mediately  recalled,  for  they  were  beating  up  the 
entangled  woods,  hunting  the  poor  Indians  like  so 
many  deer. 

Ortiz  himself  went  into  the  forest  and  called  with 
a  loud  voice  to  the  Indians,  to  come  out  of  the 
thickets  and  fear  nothing.  Many  of  them,  however, 
were  panic-struck  and  fled  back  to  their  village,  to 
acquaint  Mucozo  with  what  had  happened.  Others 


72  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA- 

joined  Ortiz  in  small  parties,  upbraiding  him  with 
his  rashness,  but  when  they  found  one  of  their  peo 
ple  wounded,  they  were  so  exasperated,  that  they 
would  have  laid  violent  hands  upon  him  had  not  the 
Spaniards  been  present. 

They  were  at  length  pacified.  The  soldiers 
bound  up  the  wounds  of  the  Indian,  and  placed  him 
upon  a  horse.  The  troopers,  having  taken  up  all 
the  Indians  behind  them,  galloped  away  for  the 
encampment  of  the  Governor.  Previously  to  set 
ting  off,  however,  Ortiz  despatched  an  Indian  to 
Mucozo,  with  a  true  account  of  the  late  events,  lest 
that  cacique  should  be  irritated  by  the  alarming 
statement  brought  by  the  fugitives.* 

The  night  was  already  far  advanced  when  Balta- 
zar  de  Gallegos  and  his  band  reached  the  camp. 
When  the  governor  heard  the  tramp  of  their  horse, 
he  was  filled  with  alarm,  suspecting  some  mischance 
had  befallen  them,  as  he  did  not  look  for  them  be 
fore  the  expiration  of  three  days.  His  apprehen 
sions,  however,  were  soon  turned  to  rejoicing.  He 
praised  Gallegos  and  his  men  for  the  skill  and  suc 
cess  of  their  expedition,  and  received  Ortiz  as  his 
own  son,  sympathizing  with  him  in  his  past  suffer 
ings,  presenting  him  with  a  suit  of  clothes,  arms,  and 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  8.     Herrera,  D.  6.  L.  7.  c.  9 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  73 

a  good  horse.*  The  Indians  who  accompanied 
them,  he  treated  with  every  mark  of  kindness,  and 
ordered  the  wounded  savage  to  be  carefully  attend 
ed.  He  then  despatched  two  of  the  natives  to  Mu- 
cozo,  thanking  him  for  his  past  kindness  to  Ortiz, 
accepting  his  proffers  of  friendship,  and  inviting  him 
to  visit  the  camp.  Not  an  eye  was  closed  this 
night,  but  one  and  all  joined  in  the  revelry  which 
welcomed  the  liberation  of  poor  Ortiz. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  envoys  had  been  des 
patched,  the  cacique  Mucozo  arrived,  accompanied 
by  his  warriors.  He  kissed  the  hands  of  the  Go 
vernor  with  great  veneration,  saluted  each  one  of 
the  officers,  and  made  a  slight  obeisance  to  the  pri 
vates.  De  Soto  received  him  with  affectionate 
courtesy,  and  assured  him  that  his  people  would  be 
ever  grateful  to  him  for  all  his  past  kindnesses. 
"  What  I  have  done  unto  Ortiz,"  said  Mucozo,  "  is 
but  little  indeed  ;  he  came  commended  to  me,  and 
threw  himself  upon  my  protection.  There  is  a  law 
of  our  tribe,  which  forbids  our  betraying  a  fugitive 
wrho  asks  of  us  an  asylum.  But  his  own  virtue  and 
dauntless  courage  entitled  him  to  all  the  respect 
which  was  shown  him.  That  I  have  pleased  your 
people,  I  rejoice  exceedingly,  and  by  devoting  my- 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  7,  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  P.  1.  L.  2. 
c.  7.  Hcrrera,  Decad.  6.  L.  7.  c.  10. 


74  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

self,  henceforth,  to  their  service,  I  hope  to  merit 
their  esteem."  These  words  were  uttered  with  so 
much  grace,  his  bearing  was  so  noble  and  lofty,  and 
his  manner  was  so  full  of  kindness,  that  De  Soto  and 
his  officers  were  touched,  and  made  him  presents 
for  himself  and  his  warriors. 

Two  days  afterwards  came  the  mother  of  Muco- 
zo,  overwhelmed  with  grief  because  her  son  was  in 
the  power  of  the  Christians.  She  never  would  have 
consented  to  his  visiting  the  army,  but  was  absent 
at  the  time  of  his  departure.  She  passionately  en 
treated  the  governor  to  deliver  up  her  son,  and  not 
serve  him  as  Narvaez  had  served  Hirrihigua.  "  He 
is  young,"  said  she,  "  only  give  him  his  liberty,  and 
take  me,  who  am  a  poor  old  woman,  and  treat  rne 
as  you  please.  I  will  bear  any  punishment  for  both." 
De  Soto  endeavoured  to  reassure  her  by  expres 
sions  of  gratitude  and  friendship  for  her  son  and 
herself;  but  though  she  remained  three  days  in  the 
camp,  and  was  treated  by  every  one  with  respect 
and  kindness,  she  continued  anxious  and  suspicious. 
She  ate  at  the  table  of  the  governor,  but  would  par 
take  of  nothing  until  Ortiz  had  tasted  it;  fearing  she 
might  be  poisoned.  "  How  is  this,"  said  a  Spaniard 
to  her,  "that  you  have  now  so  great  a  fear  of  death, 
you  who  offered  to  die  for  your  son  ?" 

"  I  have  the  same  love  of  life  as  other  mortals,"  re- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  75 

plied  she,  "  but  most  willingly  would  I  lose  it  to 
save  a  son,  who  is  far  dearer  to  me  than  life  itself !" 

Even  when  assured  of  the  perfect  liberty  of  Mu- 
cozo,  and  that  he  only  remained  for  a  time  with  the 
Spaniards  through  choice,  because  they  were  young 
braves  like  himself,  she  was  but  poorly  comforted, 
and  departed  sorrowing  for  her  home.  On  parting, 
she  took  Juan  Ortiz  aside,  and  besought  him  to  libe 
rate  Mucozo,  inasmuch  as  he  had  saved  him  from 
the  vengeful  hands  of  Hirrihigua. 

The  cacique  remained  in  the  army  eight  days, 
and  during  this  time  became  very  familiar,  and  was 
inspired  with  perfect  confidence  in  the  Spaniards. 
He  went  home  well  contented,  and  frequently  after 
wards  revisited  the  Governor,  bringing  always  a 
number  of  presents.* 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega.  P.  1.  L.  2.  c.  7,  8. 


76 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Governor  endeavours  to  gain  the  friendship  of 
the  stern  Cacique  of  Hirrihigua — Gallegos  des 
patched  on  an  expedition  to  the  village  of  Urri- 
barracaxi — he  hears  of  a  region  to  the  westward" 
abounding  in  gold. 

1739.  WHILE  these  things  were  passing  in  the 
camp,  the  provisions  and  munitions  were  landed  from 
the  caravels,  and  stored  away  in  the  village  of  Hir 
rihigua.  The  Adelantado,  following  the  example  of 
Cortez  and  other  renowned  captains,  despatched  se 
ven  of  the  largest  vessels  to  the  Havana,  in  order 
that  his  followers  might  lose  all  hope  of  leaving  the 
country,  retaining  only  a  caravel  and  twobrigantines 
to  keep  command  of  the  sea  coast  and  of  the  bay.* 
He  appointed  Pedro  Calderon  to  the  command  of 
this  important  post.  He  was  a  hardy  veteran,  nursed 
in  a  rough  school,  amid  camps  and  battle  scenes, 
and  had  served  in  his  youth  under  the  great  Captain 
Gonsalvo  de  Cordova. 

*  Herrera.  Hist.  Ind.  Decad.  vi.  L.  vii.  c.  10. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  77 

De  Soto  left  no  means  untried  to  gain  the  friend 
ship  of  Hirrihigua,  being  aware  that  the  example  of 
this  powerful  chieftain  would  have  great  sway  with 
the  neighbouring  Caciques.  Accordingly,  when 
ever  the  troopers,  in  foraging  the  adjacent  country, 
captured  a  vassal  of  this  Cacique,  he  instantly  sent 
him  home  loaded  with  presents  and  kind  messages, 
urging  Hirrihigua  to  accept  his  proffered  amity,  and 
promising  every  reparation  for  the  wrongs  inflicted 
upon  him  by  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez.  These  wrongs, 
however,  were  too  deep  to  be  easily  obliterated 
from  the  stern  bosorn  of  the  savage  chieftain.  The 
only  reply  he  deigned  to  give  was,  "  The  memory  of 
my  injuries  forbid  my  sending  a  kind  answer,  and 
a  harsh  one  your  courtesy  will  not  allow  me  to  re 
turn."  Still  these  constant  and  unwearied  exer 
tions  of  De  Soto  in  some  measure  mitigated  the 
deadly  rancour  of  the  Cacique  against  the  Span 
iards. 

The  Governor  made  many  inquiries  of  Ortiz  re 
specting  the  country,  and  whether  there  was  any 
region  abounding  in  gold  and  silver.  Ortiz  knew  of 
no  such  place,  and  could  yield  but  little  information. 
When  with  Hirrihigua  he  had  been  closely  watch 
ed,  and  not  allowed  to  wander :  and  although  while 
dwelling  with  Mucozo  he  had  perfect  liberty,  yet  he 
dared  not  venture  far,  through  fear  of  being  waylaid 
7* 


78  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

by  his  enemies.  He  had  heard  much,  however,  of 
a  Cacique  named  Urribarracaxi,  whose  village  was 
thirty  leagues  distant,  who  was  the  most  powerful 
chieftain  of  the  country.  To  him  Mucozo,  Hirrihigua, 
and  all  the  other  Caciques  of  the  coast  paid  tribute, 
and  his  territories  were  far  more  fertile  and  abun 
dant  than  those  nearer  the  sea.* 

Upon  this  the  Governor  despatched  Baltazar  de 
Gallegoson  an  expedition  to  the  village  of  this  pow 
erful  Cacique.  Gallegos  chose  the  same  sixty  lances 
that  had  accompanied  him  when  in  search  of  Juan 
Ortiz,  and  other  sixty  foot  soldiers,  armed  with  cross- 
bows  and  bucklers.  He  was  accompanied  by  Or 
tiz  as  guide  and  interpreter.  On  approaching  the 
village  of  Mucozo,  the  Cacique  came  forth  to  receive 
them,  and  entertained  them  for  the  night  with  great 
hospitality.  On  the  following  morning  the  Captain 
demanded  of  him  a  guide  to  the  village  of  Urri 
barracaxi.  The  Cacique  at  first  thought  their  de 
signs  upon  the  village  were  hostile,  and  shrank  with 
noble  spirit  from  what  would  have  been  an  act  of 
perfidy  against  his  relative  and  neighbour.  When 
he  found,  however,  that  they  wrere  on  a  friendly 
errand,  and  only  wanted  one  of  his  vassals  as  a  pre 
cursor,  to  go  before  and  inform  Urribarracaxi  of 

*  Portuguese  Relation,  c.  9.  The  name  of  the  Cacique  in  the 
Portuguese  Narrative  is  Paracoxi,  We  follow  the  Inca. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  79 

their  amicable  intentions,  he  gladly  furnished  them 
with  an  Indian  for  the  purpose,  who  had  been  a  fast 
friend  of  Juan  Ortiz. 

In  their  march  thus  far  into  the  interior  they  had 
been  occasionally  impeded  by  morasses,  which, 
however,  became  less  frequent  the  farther  they 
went  from  the  sea.  They  observed  many  trees 
similar  to  those  of  Spain,  such  as  Walnut,  Oak, 
Mulberry,  Plumb,  Pine,  and  Evergreen  Oak.  There 
were  wild  grapes  also  in  abundance. 

The  distance  from  the  village  of  Mucozo  to  that 
of  his  brother-in-law  was  about  seventeen  leagues. 
They  arrived  there  in  four  days,  but  found  it  desert 
ed,  the  inhabitants  having  fled  to  the  woods.  They 
sent  their  envoy  repeatedly  to  the  Cacique,  with  the 
most  friendly  messages,  but  every  effort  to  draw  him 
from  his  retreat  proved  fruitless,  though  he  mani 
fested  no  hostility  in  word  or  deed.  Gallegos  made 
diligent  inquiry  of  the  Indians  they  met  with  as  to 
any  province  where  gold  and  silver  were  to  be 
found.  They  replied  that  there  was  a  country  to 
the  westward  called  Ocali,  the  inhabitants  of  which 
were  continually  at  war  with  the  people  of  another 
province,  in  which  the  Spring  lasted  all  the  year 
long,  and  gold  was  so  plenty  that  their  warriors 
wore  head  pieces  of  that  precious  metal.* 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  10. 


80 


CHAPTER  XL 

The  expedition  of  the  veteran  Vasco  Porcallo  in  quest 
of  the  Cacique  Hirrihigua,  and  how  he  fared  in  a 
swamp. 

1539.  AFTER  the  Governor,  Hernando  de  Soto, 
had  despatched  Gallegos  on  his  exploring  expedition, 
he  received  intelligence  that  the  Cacique  Hirrihigua 
was  concealed  in  a  forest  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  camp.  He  was  about  to  send  a  captain  with  an 
armed  force  in  quest  of  him,  when  the  enterprise 
was  claimed  by  the  Lieutenant-General,  Vasco  Por 
callo  de  Figueroa.  This  brave  old  cavalier  had  a 
passion  for  military  exploit,  and  was  withal,  a  little 
vainglorious.  He  thought  this  a  fitting  opportunity 
to  signalize  himself,  and  insisted  upon  having  the 
honour  of  capturing  this  fugitive,  yet  formidable 
Cacique.  The  enterprise  being  granted  to  him,  he 
prepared  for  it  in  his  usual  style  ;  for  he  was  fond  of 
parade,  and  generous  in  all  his  appointments.  Hav 
ing  selected  a  band  of  horsemen  and  foot  soldiers, 
he  put  himself  at  their  head  and  sallied  forth  from 
the  camp,  well  mounted,  and  cased  in  glittering  ar- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  81 

mour,  vaunting  that  he  would  bring  home  Hirri- 
higua  either  a  prisoner  or  a  friend.* 

He  had  not  proceeded  far,  however,  when  he  was 
met  by  an  Indian  messenger,  sent  by  Hirrihigua, 
who  had  received  intelligence  by  his  spies  of  the 
armed  force,  marching  in  quest  of  him.  The  mes 
senger  entreated  Vasco  Porcallo  on  the  part  of  Hir 
rihigua,  not  to  proceed  any  farther,  as  the  Cacique 
was  in  so  secure  a  fortress  that,  with  all  his  exer 
tions,  he  could  not  get  to  him  ;  whereas  he  and  his 
troops  would  be  exposed  to  infinite  perils  from  the 
rivers,  morasses  and  tangled  forests,  which  he  would 
have  to  pass.  The  Cacique  added,  that  he  gave 
this  advice,  not  through  any  fear  for  himself,  but  in 
consequence  of  the  forbearance  manifested  by  the 
Spaniards,  in  not  injuring  his  territory,  or  his  sub 
jects. 

Vasco  Porcallo  listened  to  the  messenger  with 
incredulity  ;  persuading  himself  that  fear,  not  gra 
titude,  nor  courtesy  dictated  the  message  ;  so  he  or 
dered  the  trumpet  to  sound,  and  marched  on.  As 
he  advanced,  messenger  after  messenger  encounter 
ed  him,  all  repeating  the  warning  to  return,  and 
they  at  length  became  so  frequent  as  almost  to  over 
take  each  other.  The  more,  however,  he  was  warn- 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  P.  1,  L.  2,  c.  9. 
Herrera.  Hist.  Ind.  Decad.  6,  L.  7.  c.  10, 


82  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ed  to  return,  the  more  obstinately  did  the  stout 
hearted,  and  hot  headed  cavalier  persist  in  advanc 
ing  ;  taking  every  thing  by  contrary,  and  judging  of 
the  panic  of  the  Cacique,  by  the  frequency  of  his 
messages.  His  only  fear  was  that  the  prize  might 
take  to  flight,  and  escape  him.  He  spurred  on  hotly, 
therefore,  with  his  troops  until  they  arrived  at  a 
vast  and  dismal  morass. 

Here  his  men  perceived  the  truth  of  the  warnings 
they  had  received,  and  began  to  remonstrate  about 
the  difficulty  and  danger  of  attempting  this  morass. 
Vasco  Porcallo,  however,  had  put  himself  too  much 
on  his  mettle  in  this  enterprise,  to  be  easily  daunt 
ed.  He  insisted  upon  their  entering ;  but,  being 
an  old  soldier,  he  knew  the  effect  in  time  of  difficul 
ty,  of  setting  an  example ;  so,  putting  spurs  to  his 
horse,  he  dashed  forward,  and  his  men  followed  him 
pell  mell  into  the  morass.  Vasco  Porcallo  had  not 
proceeded  far,  however,  when,  coming  to  a  deep 
miry  place,  his  horse  floundered  and  fell.  The  peril 
of  the  Lieutenant-General  was  imminent ;  the  horse 
had  fallen  upon  one  of  his  legs  so  as  to  pin  him 
down,  while  the  weight  of  his  armour  contributed  to 
sink  him  in  the  mire.  Both  horse  and  rider  were  in 
danger  of  suffocation,  nor  could  any  one  come  to 
their  aid  :  being  in  a  perfect  quagmire,  where  all 
who  entered  would  be  exposed  to  like  peril. 


CONQUEST   OF   FLORIDA.  83 

At  length,  with  infinite  difficulty,  the  worthy  ca 
valier  extricated  himself  and  his  steed  from  this  dis 
mal  bog,  and  landed  once  more  on  firm  ground,  co 
vered  with  mud  and  mire.  All  his  vainglory  was 
at  an  end,  he  was  out  of  humour  with  himself,  and 
felt  mortified  in  the  sight  of  his  soldiers.  The  sa 
vage  whom  he  had  come  to  fight  and  capture,  in 
stead  of  encountering  him  with  deadly  weapons, 
had  conquered  him  by  courteous  and  friendly  mes 
sages,  and  his  vainglorious  enterprise  had  ended  in 
a  struggle  in  a  quagmire. 

Ordering  his  men  to  face  about,  he  set.  out 
on  his  return  for  the  camp,  in  far  different 
mood  from  that  in  which  he  had  sallied  forth. 
Amidst  the  mortifications  of  his  present  plight,  he 
called  to  mind  the  pleasant  and  comfortable  home 
he  had  left  behind,  at  Cuba,  and  the  easy  and  luxu 
rious  life  he  had  led  there.  He  reflected  that  he 
was  no  longer  a  boy  ;  that  the  vigour  of  his  days 
was  past ;  that  his  present  disaster  was  but  a  slight 
foretaste  of  the  toils  and  troubles  that  must  attend 
this  conquering  expedition  ;  that  he  was  not  obliged 
to  encounter  them,  but  had  better  return  to  his 
home,  and  leave  the  conquest  of  Florida  for  the 
young  hot  heads  who  were  embarked  in  it. 

Revolving  these  and  similar  thoughts  in  his  mind, 
the  worthy  old  cavalier,  all  bedabbled  and  bemired, 


84  CONQUEST    OP   FLORIDA. 

and  totally  crest  fallen,  rode  along  in  crusty  and 
querulous,  yet  half  whimsical  humour,  muttering  his 
fancies  to  himself,  and  ejaculating,  in  a  broken 
manner,  the  hard  Indian  names,  with  an  occasional 
curse  upon  them  for  their  ruggedness.  "  Hurri- 
harri !  Hurri-higa  !  Burra-coxa  !  Hurri-harri — the 
devil  take  a  country  where  the  great  men  have  such 
infamous  names !  a  fine  commencement  this  !  pro 
mising  omens  of  future  luck  !  Glorious  middles  and 
ends  to  be  augured  from  such  beginnings  ! — Well, 
let  those  work  for  food  and  fame  who  are  in  need  of 
them.  For  my  part,  I  have  riches  and  honour 
enough  to  last  for  the  rest  of  my  life,  and  to  leave 
behind  me." 

In  this  moody  way,  the  worthy  Vasco  Porcallo 
arrived  at  the  camp.  All  his  dreams  of  conquest 
were  at  an  end.  The  martial  fire  which  he  had 
caught  from  the  young  sparks  of  the  army,  and 
which  had  blazed  up  so  suddenly  in  his  bosom,  had 
been  as  suddenly  extinguished.  His  only  thought 
now,  was,  how  to  get  rid  of  his  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  General,  and  to  get  safe  back  to  his  comfort 
able  home  in  Cuba.  With  these  views  he  present 
ed  himself  at  once  before  De  Soto,  and  stating  his 
reasons  with  honest  force  and  hearty  sincerity,  ap 
plied  for  permission  to  resign.  The  Governor  grant 
ed  it  with  the  same  promptness  and  grace,  with 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  85 

which  he  had  accepted  his  offer  to  join  the  enter 
prise,  and  moreover  furnished  him  with  the  galliot 
San  Anton,  to  convoy  him  to  the  island. 

The  worthy  veteran  now  set  to  work  as  eagerly 
to  get  out  of  the  expedition,  as  he  had  done  to  enter 
upon  it.  His  train  of  servants,  Spanish,  Indian,  and 
negro,  were  embarked  with  all  speed  ;  but  when 
the  gallant  old  cavalier  came  to  take  leave  of  his 
young  companions  in  arms,  and  the  soldiers  he 
had  lately  aspired  to  lead  so  vaingloriously,  his 
magnificent  spirit  broke  forth.  He  made  gifts  to 
the  right  and  left,  dividing  among  the  officers  and 
knights  all  the  arms,  accoutrements,  horses,  and 
camp  equipage  with  which  he  had  come  so  lavishly 
and  ostentatiously  provided  ;  and  he  gave  for  the 
use  of  the  army  all  the  ample  store  of  provisions 
and  munitions  which  he  had  brought  for  the  use  of 
himself  and  his  retinue.  This  done,  he  bade  fare 
well  to  campaigning,  and  set  sail  for  Cuba,  much  to 
the  regret  of  the  army,  who  lamented  that  so  galliard 
a  spirit  should  have  burnt  out  so  soon. 

The  only  one  that  remained  behind  of  the  train 
of  Vasco  Porcallo,  was  his  natural  son,  named  Go 
mez  Suarez  de  Figueroa,  whom  he  had  by  an  In 
dian  woman,  in  Cuba,  and  with  whom  he  left  two 
horses  and  arms,  arid  other  necessaries.  This  youth 
throughout  this  expedition,  conducted  himself  as  a 

8 


86  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

good  knight  and  soldier,  and  a  worthy  son  of  such 
a  father,  serving  with  great  promptitude  on  all  oc 
casions.* 

*The  Inca.  P.  1,  L.2,  c.  11. 


87 


CHAPTER  XII. 

De  Soto  leaves  Pedro  Colder  on  with  a  garrison  in 
Hirrihigua  and  sets  out  on  his  march  into  the 
interior — the  difficulties  he  encountered — Gonzalo 
Silvestre  sent  back  with  a  message  to  Calderon. 

1539.  ON  the  day  after  the  departure  of  Vasco 
Porcallo,  a  young  cavalier  named  Gonzalo  Silves 
tre,  followed  by  three  other  horsemen,  rode  into  the 
camp,  having  been  sent  by  Baltazar  de  Gallegos. 
They  brought  favourable  accounts  from  Gallegos  of 
the  country  he  had  explored,  and  assurances  that,  in 
the  village  of  Urribarracaxi  and  its  neighbourhood, 
there  were  provisions  enough  to  sustain  the  army 
for  several  days. 

There  was  but  one  drawback  on  their  favourable 
intelligence,  which  was,  that  beyond  the  town  of 
Urribarracaxi  there  extended  a  vast  and  dismal 
swamp,  exceedingly  difficult  to  be  traversed.  The 
Spaniards,  however,  who  were  all  alert  for  action 
and  adventure,  made  light  of  this  obstacle,  averring 
that  God  had  given  man  genius  and  dexterity  with 
which  to  make  his  way  through  every  difficulty. 


88  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

Satisfied  from  the  relation  given  by  these  men 
that  he  might  readily  penetrate  into  the  interior,  the 
Governor  issued  orders  for  every  one  to  prepare  to 
march  on  the  fourth  day.  In  the  mean  time  he  des 
patched  Gonzalo  Silvestre,  with  twenty  horsemen, 
to  notify  Baltazar  de  Gallegos  of  his  intended  march 
to  join  him. 

As  there  was  a  great  quantity  of  arms,  ammuni 
tion,  and  provisions  in  the  village  of  Hirrihigua,  he 
left  a  garrison  there  of  forty  horsemen  and  eighty  foot 
soldiers,  with  Pedro  Calderon  as  Captain  ;  who  had 
command  also  of  the  shipping  in  the  harbour,  con 
sisting  of  a  caravel  and  two  brigantines  with  their 
crews. 

They  were  enjoined  to  remain  quiet,  and  not  to 
move  to  any  other  place  without  orders  from  De 
Soto  :  they  were,  moreover,  to  cultivate  peace  with 
the  surrounding  Indians ;  not  to  make  war  upon  them 
even  though  they  were  taunted  and  insulted,  and 
above  all,  to  treat  Mucozo  with  marked  friendship. 

Having  made  all  these  arrangements,  and  trust 
ing,  as  well  he  might,  in  Pedro  Calderon  as  a  good 
soldier  and  discreet  Captain,  De  Soto  set  out  on 
the  appointed  day,  with  his  main  force,  from  the 
Bay  of  Espiritu  Santo  and  the  village  of  Hirrihigua. 
It  was  an  arduous  and  difficult  task  to  conduct  such 
a  body  of  troops,  encumbered  with  armour  and 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  89 

with  all  kinds  of  baggage  and  supplies,  through  a 
wilderness,  exposed  to  hardships  and  dangers,  and 
a  wild  kind  of  warfare,  to  all  which  most  of  them 
were  entirely  unaccustomed. 

As  a  leading  object  with  the  Governor,  also,  was 
to  found  a  colony,  he  was  encumbered  with  many 
things  that  embarrassed  the  march  of  his  army. 
Among  these  are  particularly  noted  three  hundred 
swine,  with  which  he  intended  to  stock  the  country 
when  he  should  settle,  having  been  found  the  most 
advantageous  stock  for  the  sustenance  of  new  colo 
nies.  These  animals  were  placed  in  charge  of  a 
company  of  horse,  to  keep  them  to  the  line  of  march, 
and  guard  them  in  traversing  the  swamps  and 
rivers. 

Besides  the  match  locks  and  cross-bows  with 
which  the  infantry  were  armed,  there  was  one  piece 
of  ordnance  in  the  army,  the  transportation  of 
which  must  have  cost  vast  labour,  while  it  appears 
never  to  have  rendered  any  efficient  service. 

After  two  days'  march,  always  to  the  northeast, 
De  Soto,  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day,  came  in 
sight  of  the  village  of  Mucozo.  The  Cacique  came 
forth  to  receive  him,  expressing  great  grief  at  his 
intended  depatrure  from  the  country,  and  entreat 
ing  him  to  remain  that  night  in  his  village.  The 
Governor,  however,  excused  himself,  riot  wishing  to 
8* 


90  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

task  his  hospitality  with  such  a  multitude  of  guests. 
He  again  expressed  his  thanks  for  the  kindness 
shown  by  the  Cacique  to  Juan  Ortiz,  and  commend 
ed  to  his  friendship  and  good  offices  the  Captain 
and  soldiers  who  remained  in  garrison  in  the  village 
of  Hirrihigua.  The  Cacique  promised  to  observe 
towards  them  the  strictest  amity.  He  then  took 
leave  of  the  Governor  and  his  principal  officers  and 
cavaliers,  with  many  embraces  and  apparently  sin 
cere  tears,  praying  that  the  sun  might  shine  upon 
them  throughout  their  journey,  and  prosper  them  in 
all  their  undertakings.  The  Spaniards,  themselves, 
were  greatly  affected  at  parting  with  this  generous 
savage,  who  had  in  all  things  proved  himself  so  true 
and  noble  a  friend. 

On  arriving  at  the  village  of  Urribarracaxi,  De 
Soto  found  Baltazar  de  Gallegos  waiting  to  receive 
him.  The  Cacique,  however,  was  still  absent,  re 
maining  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  forest,  and  though 
the  Governor  sent  envoys  with  offers  of  peace  and 
amity,  nothing  could  draw  him  forth  from  his  place 
of  refuge. 

A  grand  obstacle  now  lay  in  the  way  by  which 
the  Spaniards  were  to  proceed.  About  three 
leagues  from  the  village  extended  a  great  morass 
a  league  in  width,  two  thirds  mire  and  one  third  wa 
ter,  and  very  deep  at  the  borders.  Runners  were 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  91 

• 

sent  forth  in  three  different  directions  to  discover 
a  pass,  which  they  succeeded  in  doing  after  several 
days'  search.  By  this  pass  the  army  crossed  with 
ease,  although  it  took  a  whole  day  to  do  so. 

They  now  arrived  on  a  broad  plain,  and  sent  the 
runners  ahead  to  explore  their  route.  The  latter 
returned  the  next  day,  declaring  that  they  could  not 
proceed  farther  on  account  of  the  many  bogs  made 
by  streams  which  ran  out  of  the  great  morass  and 
inundated  the  country.  Upon  this  the  Governor 
determined  to  seek  a  road  himself.  Choosing,  there 
fore,  one  hundred  horse  and  as  many  foot  soldiers, 
he  left  the  rest  of  the  army  where  they  were,  with 
the  Camp-Master-General,  Luis  de  Moscoso,  arid 
re-crossing  the  great  swamp,  he  travelled  three 
days  along  one  side  of  it,  sending  runners  at  differ 
ent  distances,  to  seek  for  some  outlet. 

During  the  three  days,  the  Indians  incessantly 
sallied  forth  from  the  woods  which  skirted  the 
swamp,  discharging  their  arrows  at  the  Spaniards 
and  then  retreating  to  their  thickets.  Some,  how 
ever,  were  killed  and  others  taken  prisoners.  The 
latter  were  used  as  guides,  but  they  led  the  troops 
into  difficult  passes,  and  places  where  the  Indians 
were  lurking  in  ambush.  Discovering  their  perfidy, 
the  Spaniards  let  loose  the  dogs,  who  killed  four  of 
them.  Upon  this,  an  Indian,  fearing  a  similar  fate, 


92  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA* 

» 

offered  to  guide  them  surely,  and  accordingly,  after 
a  wide  circuit,  brought  them  to  a  place  free  from 
mud,  but  where  they  had  to  proceed  for  the  dis 
tance  of  a  league  breast  high  in  water,  until  they 
came  to  the  mid  channel,  where,  for  a  hundred 
yards,  it  was  too  deep  to  be  forded.  Here  the  In 
dians  had  constructed  a  rude  bridge,  by  felling  two 
large  trees  into  the  water ;  and,  where  they  did  riot 
unite,  the  space  was  supplied  by  logs  tied  to  each 
other,  with  poles  across  them.  By  this  same  bridge 
Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  had  passed,  ten  years  before, 
with  his  unfortunate  army. 

Hernando  de  Soto,  well  pleased  to  have  found 
this  bridge,  summoned  two  soldiers,  half-breeds  of 
the  Island  of  Cuba,  named  Pedro  Moron  and  Diego 
de  Oliva,  who  were  expert  swimmers,  and  ordered 
them  to  take  hatchets  and  cut  away  several  branches 
which  obstructed  the  passage  of  the  bridge,  and 
clear  away  all  other  impediments. 

The  two  soldiers  set  to  work  with  all  diligence, 
but  in  the  midst  of  their  labour,  several  canoes  with 
Indians  darted  forth  from  among  the  rushes,  and 
galled  the  workmen  by  a  flight  of  arrows.  The 
two  half-breeds  plunged  headlong  from  the  bridge, 
swam  under  the  water  and  came  up  near  their  com 
rades.  They  were  but  slightly  wounded,  for  being 
under  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  force  of  the  ar- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  93 

rows  was  broken  and  they  did  not  penetrate  deeply. 
After  this  sudden  onset  the  Indians  retired.  The 
Spaniards  repaired  the  bridge  without  being  again 
molested,  and  at  a  short  distance  above  they  dis 
covered  a  very  good  pass  for  the  horses. 

Having  thus  succeeded  in  the  object  of  his  search, 
the  Governor  called  to  him  Gonzalo  Silvestre,  one 
of  the  most  hardy  and  spirited  of  his  youthful  cava 
liers,  and  the  best  mounted  of  his  troop.  "  To  your 
lot,"  said  he,  "  has  fallen  the  best  horse  in  the  army, 
and  the  more  work  you  will  have  in  consequence, 
for  we  have  to~  assign  to  you  the  most  difficult  tasks 
that  occur.  It  is  important  to  our  lives  and  the  suc 
cess  of  our  enterprise,  that  you  return  this  night  to 
the  camp,  and  tell  Luis  de  Moscoso  to  follow  us 
with  all  the  army  ;  and  as  for  you,  that  he  immedi 
ately  despatch  you  to  us  with  provisions,  to  sustain 
us  until  we  find  food  :  for  our  need  you  well  know 
is  great.  And  that  you  may  return  with  more 
safety  than  you  go,  tell  him  to  give  you  thirty  lances 
as  an  escort.  I  will  wait  for  you  in  this  same  place 
until  to-morrow  night,  so  return  without  delay.  The 
road  may  seem  long  and  difficult  to  you,  and  the 
time  short,  but  I  know  to  whom  I  entrust  the  under 
taking.  That  you  may  not  go  alone,  take  with  you 
the  companion  you  like  best ;  and  be  off  at  once, 
for  you  should  be  at  the  camp  before  day  breaks  ; 


94  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

lest,  should  the  day  dawn  before  you  have  passed 
the  swamp,  the  Indians  capture  and  kill  you." 

The  very  peril  of  the  mission  put  the  youthful  Sil- 
vestre  upon  his  metal.  Without  answering  a  wrord, 
he  left  the  Governor,  vaulted  in  his  saddle,  and  was 
already  on  the  way  when  he  encountered  another 
youth,  one  Juan  Lopez  Cacho,  native  of  Seville, 
and  page  of  the  Governor,  who  had  an  excellent 
horse.  "Juan  Lopez,"  cried  Silvestre,  "  the  Gene 
ral  has  ordered  that  you  and  I  go  with  a  message 
to  be  delivered  before  day-break  at  the  camp;  fol 
low  me,  therefore,  immediately,  for  I  am  already 
on  the  road." 

"  Take  some  other  person,  I  entreat  you,"  said 
Juan  Lopez,  "  I  am  fatigued,  and  cannot  make  the 
journey." 

"  As  you  please,"  replied  Silvestre,  "  the  Gover 
nor  ordered  me  to  choose  a  companion,  and  I  have 
chosen  you.  If  you  are  so  disposed,  come  and  wel 
come  ;  if  not,  remain.  Your  company  will  not  dimi 
nish  the  danger,  nor  will  my  going  alone  encrease 
the  toil."  So  saying  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and 
continued  on  his  way.  Juan  Lopez,  much  as  it 
went  against  his  will,  leaped  into  his  saddle  and  gal 
loped  after  him. 


95 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  perilous  journey  of  Gonzalo  Sihestre,  and  his 
friend,  Juan  Lopez. 

1539.  THE  sun  was  just  setting  as  Gonzalo  Silves- 
tre  and  his  comrade,  Juan  Lopez,  departed  on  their 
hazardous  mission.  These  youthful  cavaliers  were 
well  matched  in  spirit,  hardihood,  and  sprightly  va 
lour  ;  and  neither  of  them  had  attained  his  twenty 
first  year. 

They  galloped  rapidly  over  the  first  four  or  five 
leagues,  the  road  being  clear,  free  from  forests, 
swamps,  or  streams.  In  all  that  distance  they  did 
not  perceive  a  single  Indian.  No  sooner,  however, 
had  they  crossed  this  open  tract,  than  their  dan 
gers  and  difficulties  began ;  for,  being  ignorant  of 
the  country,  they  were  obliged  to  trace  back  step  by 
step,  the  track  they  had  made  three  days  previous, 
through  bog  and  brake,  brambles  and  forest,  and 
across  a  labyrinth  of  streams  meandering  from  the 
great  morass :  guiding  themselves  by  the  land 
marks  they  had  noticed  on  their  previous  march.  In 
this  toilsome  twilight  journey,  they  were  aided  by 
the  instinct  of  the  horses.  These  sagacious  animals, 


96  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

as  if  possessed  of  understandings,  traced  the  road 
by  which  they  had  come,  and  like  spaniels  or  setter 
dogs,  thrust  their  noses  along  the  ground  to  discover 
the  track.  Their  riders  did  not  at  first  understand 
their  intention,  and  checked  them  with  the  reins  to 
raise  their  heads.  Did  they  at  any  time  lose  the 
track,  on  finding  it  again  the  steeds  would  puff  and 
snort,  which  alarmed  their  masters,  who  dreaded 
being  overheard,  by  the  savages.* 

Gonzalo  Silvestre,  comprehending  at  length  the 
intention  of  his  horse  when  he  lowered  his  head  to 
seek  the  track,  gave  him  his  will,  without  attempt 
ing  to  guide  him.  Encountering  these  difficulties 
and  many  others  more  easily  to  be  imagined  than 

*  The  Inca  is  curiously  minute  in  his  account  of  these  horses. 
The  steed  of  Gonzalo  Silvestre,  says  he,  was  the  most  sure  in  the 
track,  and  certain  to  discover  it  when  lost.  However,  he  adds, 
we  must  not  be  surprised  at  this  excellent  quality,  and  many 
others  that  this  horse  possessed  ;  for,  his  marks  and  colour  prov 
ed  him  admirably  fitted  aither  for  peace  or  war.  He  was  of  a  dark 
chestnut  of  a  pitchy  shade,  with  white  on  one  of  his  left  feet, 
and  striped  above  the  nostrils,  marks  which  promise  more  excel, 
lence  and  gentleness  than  any  other.  The  dark  chestnut  colour, 
especially  when  of  a  pitchy  hue,  is  above  all  others  the  most  ex- 
cellent,  either  for  light  or  heavy  labour.  The  steed  of  Juan  Lo. 
pez  Cachero,  was  of  a  light  bay,  commonly  called  fox  colour,  and 
his  extremities  were  black,  excellent  marks,  but  inferior  to  the 
dark  chestnut  colour. 

Garcilaso  de  la  Vega.  P.  1,  L.  2,  c.  14. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  97 

written,  these  two  daring  youths  travelled  all  night, 
without  any  road,  half  dead  with  hunger,  worn  out 
with  excessive  fatigue,  and  almost  overcome  by 
sleep.  Their  horses  were  in  no  better  plight,  as  for 
three  days  they  had  not  been  unsaddled,  the  bits 
being  merely  taken  from  their  mouths  occasionally, 
that  they  might  graze. 

At  times  they  passed  within  sight  of  huge  fires, 
around  which  the  savages  were  seen  stretched  in 
wild  and  fantastic  groups,  some  capering  and  sing 
ing,  and  making  the  silent  forests  ring  with  their  hi 
deous  yells,  and  howlings.  These  were  probably 
celebrating  some  of  their  feasts  with  war  dances. 
The  deafening  din  they  raised  was  the  safeguard  of 
the  two  Spaniards,  as  it  prevented  the  savages  notic 
ing  the  clamorous  barking  of  their  dogs,  and  hear 
ing  the  trampling  of  the  horses  as  they  passed.* 

Thus  they  journeyed  for  more  than  ten  leagues. 
Juan  Lopez  was  repeatedly  so  much  overpowered 
by  sleep,  that  he  entreated  that  they  should  halt, 
and  take  some  repose,  but  Silvestre  resolutely  re 
fused.  At  length  poor  Lopez  could  contain  himself 
no  longer.  "  Let  me  sleep  for  a  short  time,"  said  he, 
"  or  kill  me  with  your  lance  on  the  spot,  for  I  can 
not  possibly  go  on  any  farther,  or  keep  my  saddle." 

*  The  Inca,  p.  1,  L.  2,  c.  14. 

9 


98  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

"  Dismount  then,  and  sleep  if  you  please,"  said 
Silvestre,  "  since  you  had  rather  run  the  risk  of 
being  butchered  than  bear  up  an  hour  longer.  Ac 
cording  to  the  distance  we  have  come,  we  must  be 
near  the  pass  of  the  morass,  and  cross  it  we  must 
before  dawn ;  for,  if  day  finds  us  in  this  place  our 
death  is  certain." 

Juan  Lopez  made  no  reply,  but  let  himself  fall 
upon  the  ground  like  a  lifeless  body.  His  compa 
nion  took  from  him  his  lance,  and  held  his  horse  by 
the  bridle.  Night  now  rapidly  drew  on — the  clouds 
poured  forth  a  deluge  of  rain,  but  nothing  could 
awaken  Juan  Lopez  from  his  deep  and  death-like 
slumber. 

As  the  rain  ceased,  the  clouds  dispersed  and  Sil 
vestre  declared  that  he  found  himself  suddenly  in 
broad  daylight,  without  having  perceived  it  dawn  ; 
it  is  probable  that  he  had  been  unconsciously  sleep 
ing  in  his  saddle.  Startled  at  beholding  the  day  so 
near,  he  hastened  to  call  Lopez,  but  finding  that  the 
low  tones  in  which  he  spoke,  were  insufficient,  he 
made  use  of  his  lance,  and  gave  him  some  hearty 
blows,  calling  out,  "  Look  what  your  sleeping  has 
brought  upon  us  :  see,  the  daylight  which  we  dread 
ed  has  overtaken  us,  and  we  have  now  no  escape 
from  our  enemies  !" 

Juan  Lopez,  roused  at  last  by  this  summary  pro- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  99 

cess,  sprang  into  his  saddle,  and  they  set  off  at  a 
hand  gallop.  Fortunately  for  them,  the  horses  were 
of  such  bottom,  that  notwithstanding  past  fatigue, 
they  were  yet  in  spirit.  The  light  revealed  the  two 
cavaliers  to  the  Indians,  who  set  up  yells  and  howl- 
ings,  that  seemed  to  arise  from  every  part  of  the 
morass,  accompanied  by  a  frightful  din,  and  clang 
our  of  drums,  trumpets,  conches,  and  other  rude  in 
struments  of  warlike  music. 

A  perilous  league  remained  to  be  made,  over  an 
expanse  of  water,  which  the  horses  would  have  to 
ford.  Before  the  Spaniards  reached  it,  they  beheld 
canoes  darting  forth  from  among  thickets  and  cane- 
brakes,  until  the  water  seemed  covered  with  them. 
They  saw  the  imminent  danger  that  awaited  them 
in  the  water,  after  passing  so  many  on  land  ;  but, 
knowing  that  in  courage  alone  consisted  their  safety, 
they  dashed  boldly  into  it ;  seeking  to  pass  it  with 
all  speed.  Throughout  the  whole  distance,  they 
were  beset  by  the  Indians,  who  discharged  clouds 
of  arrows  at  them.  Fortunately  they  were  cased 
in  armour,  and  their  horses  were  nearly  covered 
with  the  water,  so  that  they  both  escaped  without 
wounds,  though  the  cavaliers  declared  that,  on 
reaching  land,  ajid  looking  back,  the  whole  surface 
of  the  water  seemed  strewed  with  arrows. 

The  Indians  still  continued  to  pursue  them  on 


100  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

land,  plying  their  bows,  and  'speeding  flights  of  ar 
rows  after  them,  when  suddenly  a  band  of  thirty 
horsemen  came  galloping  to  the  rescue,  headed  by 
the  gallant  Nuno  Tobar,  on  his  famous  dapple  grey 
charger.  The  wild  cries  and  yells  of  the  Indians 
having  reached  the  army,  had  caused  a  surmise  that 
some  Spaniards  were  in  danger,  and  Nuno  Tobar 
had  immediately  proposed  this  sally  to  their  rescue  ; 
for  that  generous  cavalier,  now  that  he  was  out  of 
favour  with  his  general,  seemed,  with  the  pride  of  a 
noble  spirit,  to  pique  himself  the  more  on  signalizing 
himself  by  worthy  deeds. 

At  sight  of  Nuno  Tobar,  and  his  band,  the  In 
dians  gave  over  the  pursuit ;  and  fearing  to  be  tram 
pled  down  by  the  horses,  fled  to  the  thickets  and 
morass  for  safety. 


101 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Thirty  lances  sally  forth  with  supplies  for  the 
Governor.  The  haughty  speech  of  the  Cacique 
Acuera. 

1 539.  THE  two  adventurous  troopers  reached  the 
army  in  safety,  and  were  received  with  acclamations 
by  their  comrades.  On  learning  their  errand,  Luis  de 
Moscoso,  the  Camp-Master-General,  immediately 
ordered  two  horses  to  be  laden  with  supplies  for  the 
Governor  and  his  troops,  and  thirty  horsemen  as  an 
escort.  With  this  band  Gonzalo  Silvestre  set  out 
on  his  return,  without  having  reposed  an  hour  in  the 
camp,  and  having  scarcely  taken  any  refreshment. 
His  friend,  Juan  Lopez,  however,  remained  behind, 
excusing  himself  under  the  plea  that  the  Governor 
had  neither  ordered  him  to  go  nor  return. 

The  thirty  horse  passed  the  morass  without  oppo 
sition  from  the  Indians,  and  travelled  all  day  with 
out  seeing  an  enemy.  With  all  their  speed  they 
could  not  arrive  at  the  place  at  which  the  Governor 
had  promised  to  await  them,  until  two  hours  after 
night  fall,  when,  to  their  great  chagrin,  they  found 
9* 


102  -        CONQUEST    OP    FLORIDA. 

the  late  camping  ground  deserted.  Ignorant  of  the 
route  taken  by  the  General,  the  little  band  made 
arrangements  for  passing  the  night  in  this  perilous 
situation.  Being  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  hordes  of 
lurking  savages,  constant  vigilance  was  necessary. 
They  divided  their  party,  therefore,  into  three  bands 
often  men  each.  One  mounted  and  armed  for  ac 
tion,  went  the  rounds  the -first  third  of  the  night; 
another  band  kept  watch  at  the  encampment,  with 
their  horses  at  hand,  saddled  and  bridled  and  ready 
to  be  mounted.  The  third  detachment  merely  took 
the  bridles  off  their  steeds,  and,  suffering  the  saddles 
to  remain  on,  turned  the  horses  loose  to  graze  while 
they  snatched  a  brief  repose.  In  this  manner,  go 
ing  the  rounds,  watching  and  sleeping  by  turns,  they 
lightened  their  toils,  and  the  night  passed  away 
without  molestation  from  any  enemy. 

As  soon  as  the  day  dawned  they  sought  the  track 
of  the  General  and  his  troop,  and  following  it  came 
to  the  second  pass  of  the  morass  with  the  Indian 
bridge.  Here,  having  to  advance  for  a  great  dis 
tance,  breast  high  in  water,  they  thought  themselves 
in  imminent  peril  from  the  Indians,  who  might  ho 
ver  about  them  in  their  canoes  and  assail  them  with 
flights  of  arrows  :  to  their  great  joy,  however,  they 
accomplished  the  whole  passage  without  any  as 
sault.  This  capricious  conduct  of  the  savages,  one 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  103 

day  attacking  with  blood-thirsty  fury,  and  the  next 
keeping  entirely  out  of  sight,  occurred  repeatedty 
throughout  the  whole  of  this  expedition,  and  has 
been  sometimes  attributed  to  superstitious  notions 
and  observances  in  their  warfare. 

Having  travelled  six  leagues,  the  convoy  carne  to 
a  beautiful  valley,  in  which  were  large  fields  of  In 
dian  corn,  of  such  luxuriant  growth  as  to  bear  three 
and  four  ears  upon  a  stalk.  The  horsemen  leaned 
down  and  plucked  them  as  they  rode  along,  eating 
them  raw  to  appease  their  hunger.  In  this  valley 
they  found  the  Governor  encamped,  who  received 
them  joyfully,  lavishing  praises  upon  Silvestre  for  his 
courage  and  hardihood,  and  promising  to  reward 
him  for  his  valuable  services.  He  excused  him 
self  for  not  having  waited  at  the  appointed  place, 
by  alleging  the  intolerable  hunger  of  the  troops, 
and  their  doubts  whether  Silvestre  had  not  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

Within  a  few  days  the  Governor  was  joined  by 
the  residue  of  the  army,  conducted  by  Luis  dc 
Moscoso.  They  had  traversed  the  two  passes  of 
the  morass  with  great  toil  and  difficulty,  but  fortu 
nately,  without  any  hostility  on  the  part  of  the  na 
tives. 

The  fertile  province  in  which  the  army  was  en 
camped,  was  twenty  leagues  to  the  north  of  that  of 


104  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

XJrribarracaxi,  and  was  ruled  by  a  Cacique  named 
Acuera,  who,  on  the  approach  of  the  Spaniards,  had 
fled  with  his  people  to  the  woods.  Hernando  de 
Soto  sent  Indian  interpreters  to  him  representing 
the  power  of  the  Spaniards  to  do  injury  in  war,  and 
confer  benefits  in  peace  ;  their  disposition  to  be 
friend  the  natives,  and  that  their  only  object  was, 
by  amicable  means,  to  bring  the  people  of  this  great 
country  into  obedience  to  his  Sovereign  the  power 
ful  Emperor  and  King  of  Castile.  He  invited  the 
Cacique,  therefore,  to  a  friendly  interview  to  ar 
range  a  peaceful  intercourse. 

The  Cacique  returned  a  haughty  and  vaunting 
reply.  "  Others  of  your  accursed  race,"  said  he, 
"  have  in  years  past  poisoned  our  peaceful  shores. 
They  have  taught  me  what  you  are.  What  is 
your  employment?  To  wander  about  like  vaga 
bonds  from  land  to  land — to  rob  the  poor — to  be 
tray  the  confiding — to  murder  in  cold  blood  the  de 
fenceless.  No,  with  such  a  people  I  want  no  peace, 
no  friendship.  War — never  ending — exterminating 
war,  is  all  the  boon  I  ask.  You  boast  yourselves 
valiant — and  so  you  may  be — but  my  faithful  war 
riors  are  not  less  brave — and  this,  too,  you  shall  one 
day  prove,  for  I  have  sworn  to  maintain  an  unspar 
ing  conflict  while  one  white  man  remains  in  my 
borders.  Not  openly  in  the  battle  field — though 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  105 

even  thus  we  fear  not  to  meet  you — but  by  strata 
gem,  and  ambush,  and  midnight  surprisal." 

In  reply  to  the  demand  that  he  should  yield  obe 
dience  to  the  Emperor,  he  replied  :  "  I  am  king  in 
my  own  land,  and  will  never  become  the  vassal  of  a 
mortal  like  myself.  Vile  and  pusillanimous  is  he 
who  will  submit  to  the  yoke  of  another,  when  he 
may  be  free !  As  for  me  and  my  people,  we  choose 
death,  yes,  a  hundred  deaths,  before  the  loss  of 
our  liberty,  and  the  subjugation  of  our  country  !" 

The  Governor  was  filled  with  admiration  at  the 
pride  and  haughtiness  of  spirit  of  the  savage  chief 
tain,  and  was  more  pressing  than  ever  to  gain  his 
friendship  ;  but  to  all  his  messages  and  overtures  the 
answer  of  the  Cacique  was,  that  he  had  already 
made,  the  only  reply  he  had  to  offer. 

In  this  province  the  army  remained  twenty  days, 
recruiting  from  the  fatigue  and  privation  of  the  past 
journey.  During  this  time  the  Governor  sent  per 
sons  in  every  direction  to  explore  the  country,  wTho 
returned  with  favourable  reports. 

The  Indians,  during  this  time,  were  not  asleep  nor 
idle.  To  fulfil  the  bravadoes  of  their  Cacique,  they 
lurked  in  ambush  about  the  camp,  so  that  a  Span 
iard  could  not  stray  a  hundred  steps  from  it  with 
out  being  shot  down  and  instantly  beheaded  ;  so 


106  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

that  if  his  companions  hastened  to  his  rescue,  they 
found  nothing  but  a  headless  trunk. 

The  Christians  buried  the  dead  bodies  of  their  un 
fortunate  comrades  wherever  they  found  them,  but 
the  Indians  would  return  the  following  night,  disin 
ter  them,  cut  them  up  and  hang  them  upon  the  trees. 
The  heads  they  carried  as  trophies  to  their  Cacique, 
according  to  his  orders.  Thus  fourteen  Spaniards 
perished,  and  a  greater  number  were  wrounded. 
The  savages  in  these  skirmishes  ran  comparatively 
but  little  risk,  as  the  Spanish  encampment  was 
skirted  by  a  thicket,  whither  the  Indians,  after  mak 
ing  an  assault,  could  easily  escape.  In  this  manner 
the  Spaniards  saw  effectually  verified  the  threats 
which  had  been  shouted  forth  by  the  Indians  who 
had  hung  upon  the  rear  during  the  march,  "  Keep 
on,  robbers  and  traitors,"  cried  they,  "  in  Acuera 
and  Apalachee  we  will  treat  you  as  you  deserve. 
Every  captive  will  we  quarter  and  hang  up  on  the 
highest  trees  along  the  road." 

Notwithstanding  their  great  vigilance  during  all 
this  time,  the  Spaniards  did  riot  kill  more  than  fifty 
Indians,  for  they  were  most  prudent  and  wary  in 
their  waylay  ings.* 

*  The  Inca,  P.  1.  L.  2.  c.  16. 
Herrera.  D.  6.  L.  7.  c.  10. 


107 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The    Governor   arrives  in   the  Province  of  Ocali. 
Occurrences  there. 

1539.  FOR  twenty  days  did  the  army  repose  in  the 
Province  of  Acuera,  during  which  time,  De  Soto  per 
mitted  no  injury  to  be  done  either  to  the  hamlets 
and  villages,  or  the  fields  of  grain  :  they  then  broke 
up  their  encampment,  and  set  out  in  search  of  ano 
ther  province,  about  twenty  leagues  to  the  north 
eastward,  called  Ocali,*  the  same  of  which  Galle- 
gos  had  heard,  at  the  village  of  Urribarracaxi. 
Their  way  lay  across  a  desert  tract,  about  twelve 
leagues  broad,  interspersed  with  open  forests  of 
pine  and  other  trees,  free  from  underwood,  through 
which  the  horsemen  could  ride  at  ease.  They  then 
traversed  seven  leagues  of  inhabited  country,  where 
dwellings  were  scattered  about  the  fields  and  fo 
rests.  At  length  they  arrived  at  the  principal  vil 
lage,  called  after  the  Cacique  Ocali,  which  contain 
ed  six  hundred  houses.  The  inhabitants,  however, 

*  This  name  is  spelt  Cale  by  the  Portuguese  Narrator. 


108  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

had  abandoned  it,  and  had  fled  with  their  effects  to 
the  forests. 

This  province,  being  further  from  the  sea  coast, 
was  less  cut  up,  and  intersected  by  deep  creeks  and 
bays,  which  in  other  parts  penetrated  an  immense 
distance  into  this  low  and  level  country,  causing 
vast  swamps  and  bogs,  difficult  and  sometimes  im 
possible  to  be  passed.  In  some  of  the  morasses 
they  had  traversed,  the  surface  would  appear  like 
firm  and  dry  land,  yet  on  stepping  upon  it,  it  would 
tremble  for  twenty  or  thirty  paces  around,  and  on 
being  trodden  by  horses  would  give  way  arid  plunge 
steed  and  rider  into  a  suffocating  quagmire. 

Beside  being  more  free  from  morasses,  the  pro 
vince  of  Ocali  was  more  populous  and  fruitful  than 
the  others  ;  and  this  the  Spaniards  found  to  be  the 
case,  throughout  this  country,  in  proportion  as  the 
provinces  were  remote  from  the  sea.  What  they 
chiefly  suffered  from  throughout  this  whole  expedi 
tion,  was  the  great  scarcity  of  animal  food,  as  the 
natives  did  not  raise  domestic  cattle  ;  and,  although 
deer  and  other  game  were  abundant,  the  Indians 
only  killed  sufficient  to  supply  their  immediate 
wants. 

The  Spaniards  took  up  their  quarters  in  the  vil 
lage  of  Ocali,  where  they  found  vast  quantities  of 
maize,  vegetables  and  various  kinds  of  fruits.  The 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  109 

Governor  sent  three  or  four  Indian  messengers  dai 
ly,  to  the  Cacique  Ocali,  endeavouring,  but  in  vain,  to 
draw  that  chieftain  from  his  retreat,  with  proffers  of 
peace  and  friendship.  With  one  of  these  messengers, 
there  came  to  the  carnp  four  young  Indian  warriors, 
gaily  decorated  with  many  plumes,  who  manifested 
an  eager  curiosity  to  see  the  Spaniards,  their  dress, 
their  arms,  and  above  all,  their  horses.  The  Gover 
nor  entertained  them  kindly,  gave  them  presents, 
and  ordered  that  a  collation  should  be  set  before 
them. 

They  sat  down  and  appeared  to  be  eating  very 
quietly,  when,  perceiving  the  Spaniards  to  be  off 
their  guard,  they  all  rose  suddenly  together,  and  ran 
full  speed  to  the  woods.  It  was  in  vain  for  the 
Spaniards  to  pursue  them  on  foot,  and  there  was  no 
horse  at  hand. 

A  grey  hound  of  uncommon  sagacity,  however, 
happened  to  be  near  ;  hearing  the  cry  of  the  In 
dians,  and  seeing  them  run,  he  pursued  them.  Pas 
sing  by  the  first  whom  he  overtook,  and  likewise  the 
second,  and  third,  he  sprang  upon  the  shoulders  of 
the  foremost  and  pulled  him  to  the  ground  ;  in  the 
mean  time  the  Indian  who  was  nearest,  passed  on; 
but  the  dog  leaving  the  one  he  held  down,  sprang 
upon  the  other,  and  secured  him  in  the  same  way. 
In  like  manner  he  served  the  third  and  fourth  ;  and 

10 


110  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

then  kept  running  from  one  to  the  other  pulling 
them  down  as  fast  as  they  rose,  and  barking  so  fu 
riously,  that  the  Indians  were  terrified  and  con 
founded,  and  the  Spaniards  were  enabled  to  over 
take  and  capture  them.  They  were  taken  back  to 
the  camp  and  examined  separately,  for  as  they  were 
armed,  the  Spaniards  apprehended  some  treachery  ; 
but,  it  appeared  that  their  sudden  flight  was  only 
by  way  of  exploit  to  show  their  address  and  fleet- 
ness. 

This  same  grey  hound  had  signalized  himself  on 
another  occasion,  before  the  army  reached  Ocali. 
As  several  Indians  and  Spaniards  wrere  talking  in  a 
friendly  way  on  the  bank  of  a  river,  one  of  the  In 
dians  struck  a  Spaniard  violently  with  his  bow,  and 
threw  himself  into  the  water,  all  his  companions  fol 
lowing  him.  The  dog  immediately  sprang  in  after 
them,  but  passed  by  several  of  the  Indians  without 
molesting  them  until  he  came  to  the  one  who  had 
committed  the  assault,  when  laying  hold  of  him,  he 
tore  him  to  pieces. 


Ill 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  fate  of  the  Greyhound. 

]539.  AFTER  repeated  solicitations,  the  Cacique 
Ocali,  at  the  end  of  six  days,  ventured  from  his  place 
of  refuge,  and  visited  the  army,  where  he  was  treated 
with  great  courtesy  and  kindness,  although  the  Span 
iards  doubted  much  the  sincerity  of  his  professions. 

Hard  by  the  village  ran  a  wide  and  deep  river, 
with  most  precipitous  banks.  Notwithstanding  it 
was  the  summer  season,  this  river  was  too  full  of 
water  to  be  fordable  ;  it  was  necessary,  therefore, 
to  construct  a  wooden  bridge,  over  which  the  army 
might  pass.  De  Soto  having  treated  with  the  Ca 
cique  for  a  number  of  his  subjects  to  aid  in  its  con 
struction  ;  they  wrent  forth  one  day  to  decide  upon 
the  spot  where  it  should  be  erected.  As  they  were 
walking  along  the  bank,  conferring  on  the  subject, 
more  than  five  hundred  Indians  suddenly  started  up 
from  among  the  bushes  and  thickets,  on  the  oppo 
site  bank  of  the  river,  crying  out  fiercely,  "  you 
want  a  bridge,  do  you  ?  merciless  robbers  !  but  you 
will  never  see  it  built  by  our  hands  !"  Thus  shout- 


112  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

ing,  they  let  fly  a  volley  of  arrows  towards  the 
place  where  the  Cacique  and  Governor  were  stand 
ing. 

De  Soto  demanded  of  his  savage  companion  the 
meaning  of  this  outrage,  seeing  he  had  given  him 
pledges  of  his  friendship.  The  Cacique  replied, 
that  these  were  of  a  refractory  party  of  his  subjects, 
who  had  cast  off  allegiance  to  him  on  account  of 
his  attachment  to  the  Spaniards,  and  that  he  was 
not  therefore  answerable  for  their  acts. 

It  happened  that  the  greyhound  already  mention 
ed,  was  at  hand,  held  in  a  leash  by  the  governor's 
page.  No  sooner  did  he  hear  the  yells  and  see  the 
menacing  actions  of  the  Indians,  than  he  was  furi 
ous  to  get  at  them.  In  his  struggles  he  drew  the 
page  along,  threw  him  on  the  ground,  and  then 
breaking  loose,  plunged  into  the  stream.  The  Spa 
niards  called  him  back  in  vain.  The  Indians,  know 
ing  his  valour  and  exploits,  and  the  harm  he  had 
done  to  their  countrymen,  were  glad  of  an  opportu 
nity  to  revenge  themselves.  They  showered  their 
arrows  about  him  as  he  swam,  and  with  such  dex 
terous  aim,  that  more  than  fifty  struck  him  about  the 
head  and  shoulders,  which  were  above  the  water. 
Still  the  courageous  animal  kept  on,  and  reached  the 
land,  but  had  scarcely  left  the  water  when  he  fell 
dead.  His  death  was  lamented  by  the  Governor 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  113 

and  the  army,  as  if  it  had  been  that  of  a  brave 
warrior:  for.  he  had  been  of  signal  service  through 
out  the  expedition,  a  vigilant  guardian  of  the  camp 
by  night,  and  a  fierce  champion  by  day.  He  was 
one  of  a  rare  and  renowned  race  of  dogs,  several 
of  which  were  noted  for  their  feats  in  the  course  of 
the  Spanish  discoveries  and  conquests. 
10* 


114 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Spaniards  enter  the  vast  province  of  Vitachuco. 
Their  reception  there. 

1539.  DE  SOTO  saw  that'the  chieftain  Ocali,  was 
but  lightly  esteemed  by  his  subjects,  who  disobeyed 
his  commands  with  impunity  ;  and,  thinking  that  the 
neighbouring  Caciques  might  suppose  that  he  was 
detained  against  his  will,  he  gave  him  permission  to 
go  to  his  people  and  re-visit  the  camp  whenever  it 
pleased  him.  The  Cacique  gladly  availed  himself 
of  this  offer,  but  declared  he  only  went  in  order  to 
bring  his  subjects  into  more  perfect  submission  to 
the  governor,  which  accomplished,  he  would  joyful 
ly  rejoin  the  Spaniards.  With  these  and  many  si 
milar  professions,  he  departed ;  but  never  again 
showed  his  face  in  the  camp. 

Upon  the  departure  of  the  Cacique,  the  Spaniards 
commenced  constructing  a  bridge  over  the  river. 
The  work  was  superintended  by  one  Francisco,  a 
Genoese,  the  only  shipwright  in  the  army.  He  was 
likewise  skilled  in  every  kind  of  carpentering  work, 
and  by  his  art  rendered  incalculable  services  to  the 
Spaniards  throughout  this  expedition.  Large  planks 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  115 

were  thrown  upon  the  water,  and  these  tied  toge 
ther  with  strong  cords,  which  they  had  brought  with 
them  for  such  emergencies  ;  crossing  and  fastening 
the  planks  with  immense  poles  laid  on  top.  It  was 
of  sufficient  strength  for  the  passage  of  both  men 
and  horses.  Having  captured  thirty  Indians  to 
serve  as  guides,  the  Spaniards  crossed  the  bridge 
and  set  forward  on  their  march. 

After  travelling  about  three  days,  the  Governor 
threw  himself  in  the  advance  of  the  army,  with  a 
hundred  horse,  and  a  hundred  foot ;  and,  pushing 
forward  in  the  night,  came  by  daybreak  to  the  fron 
tiers  of  a  province  of  great  extent,  being  fifty  leagues 
across,  called  Vitachuco.  It  was  under  the  domi 
nion  of  three  brothers.  The  eldest,  Vitachuco, 
bearing  the  name  of  the  country  over  which  he  ruled, 
had  five  parts  out  often,  the  second  brother  govern 
ed  three  of  the  remaining  five,  and  the  youngest  of 
the  family  who  was  chief  of  the  village  of  Ochile, 
and  of  the  same  name,  possessed  the  residue.  This 
was  contrary  to  the  usage  of  the  other  provinces 
through  which  the  Spaniards  had  passed,  in  which 
the  eldest  son  inherited  all. 

It  was  scarce  daybreak  on  the  first  day,  when 
the  Governor  and  his  advanced  corps  arrived  at  the 
village  of  Ochile.  It  contained  fifty  large  and 
strong  dwellings,  being  a  frontier  post,  fortified 


116  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

against  the  adjacent  provinces,  with  which  it  ap 
peared  this  country  was  embroiled  in  warfare. 

De  Soto  and  his  little  band  rushed  suddenly  into 
the  village,  with  clamorous  sound  of  drum  and  trum 
pet  ;  seized  the  Indians,  as,  terrified  and  amazed, 
they  came  forth  from  their  houses,  and  surrounded 
the  mansion  of  the  Cacique.  This  was  built  in  form 
of  one  large  pavilion,  upwards  of  a  hundred  and 
twenty  paces  in  length,  and  forty  in  breadth,  and 
four  doors,  and  a  number  of  smaller  buildings  con 
nected  with  it  like  offices. 

The  Cacique  had  with  him  a  guard  of  his  prin 
cipal  warriors,  and  many  others  had  hastened  to  his 
defence.  He  would  have  sallied  forth  and  made 
battle,  but  the  Spaniards  had  possession  of  the 
doors,  and  threatened  to  fire  the  house.  At  length, 
by  sun  rise,  he  was  persuaded  through  the  media 
tion  of  Indian  prisoners  and  interpreters,  to  yield  to 
the  superior  power  of  the  Spaniards,  and  accept 
their  proffered  friendship.  The  Governor  received 
him  kindly,  but  kept  him  with  him,  while  at  the 
same  time  he  set  at  liberty  all  the  other  prisoners, 
ordering  his  soldiers  to  treat  them  in  the  most  friend 
ly 'manner. 

The  Governor,  however,  did  not  feel  himself  se 
cure.  The  neighbourhood  was  populous  ;  the  In 
dians  seeing  the  small  number  of  his  band,  might  ga- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  117 

ther  together,  and  attempt  a  rescue  of  their  Ca 
cique.  Taking  that  chieftain  with  him,  therefore, 
and  a  number  of  his  savage  warriors,  who  adhered 
to  his  fortunes,  the  Governor  marched  his  band  out 
of  the  village,  and  returned  in  quest  of  the  main 
body  of  his  troops  ;  these  he  found  encamped  at 
three  leagues  distance,  full  of  anxiety  on  account 
of  his  absence. 

The  day  following,  the  army  entered  into  Ochile, 
in  battle  array  ;  the  foot  and  horse  formed  into 
squadrons,  and  trumpets,  fifes,  and  drums  sounding. 
The  troops  being  quartered,  the  Governor  prevailed 
upon  Ochile  to  send  envoys  to  his  two  brothers,  in 
viting  them  to  accept  the  offer  of  peace  of  the  Span 
iards,  and  warning  them  of  the  disastrous  conse 
quences  that  would  attend  a  refusal. 

The  second  brother  who  was  nearest,  readily 
complied,  and  at  the  end  of  three  days  came  ac 
companied  by  many  of  his  warriors  gaily  deco 
rated.  After  kissing  the  hands  of  the  Governor,  he 
entered  into  familiar  conversation  with  the  officers 
and  distinguished  cavaliers  of  the  army,  asking  the 
name  of  each,  and  bearing  himself  with  as  much 
ease  as  if  he  had  been  brought  up  among  them. 

The  elder  brother,  however,  who  was  much  the 
most  powerful  of  the  three,  made  no  reply  to  the 
message,  but  detained  the  envoys  by  whom  it  was 
sent.  The  two  brothers,  by  the  persuasion  of  De 


118  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

Soto,  sent  again  other  messengers  with  still  more 
urgent  counsel  and  entreaties.  They  represented 
the  invincible  power  of  the  Spaniards,  who  were 
children  of  the  sun  and  moon,  their  gods — that 
they  had  come  from  the  remote  region,  where  the 
sun  rises,  and  withal,  that  they  had  with  them  ani 
mals  called  Horses,  so  fleet,  courageous,  and  power 
ful,  that  it  was  impossible  to  escape  them  by  flight, 
or  resist  them  by  force. 

The  answer  of  Vitachuco  is  given  at  length  by 
the  Inca  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega ;  though  he  quotes 
it  from  memory,  after  a  lapse  of  years ;  and  de 
clares  that  he  cannot  vouch  for  its  being  arranged 
exactly  in  the  order  in  which  it  was  declared,  or 
that  it  was  the  whole  of  what  was  said  ;  but,  he 
pledges  his  word  that,  as  far  as  it  goes,  it  is  truly 
the  message  of  the  Cacique.  He  declares  that  if 
the  whole  could  be  written,  as  recounted  by  the  en 
voys,  none  of  the  knights  that  the  divine  Ariosto  or 
his  predecessor,  the  illustrious  and  enamoured  Count, 
Matheo  Maria  Boyardo,  have  introduced  in  their 
works,  could  equal  in  haughty  spirit  and  extrava 
gant  bravado,  this  savage  chieftain.  Without  claim 
ing  for  it  all  the  praise  here,  so  liberally  awarded  by 
this  ancient  author,  still  it  shows  the  fiery  spirit  of 
this  wild  warrior,  whose  gallant  efforts  were,  alas  ! 
of  but  little  avail  against  the  resistless  might  of  the 
Spanish  invader. 


119 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Haughty  message  of  the  Cacique  Vitachuco. 

1539.  "!T  is  evident  enough,"  observes  the  Ca 
cique  in  reply  to  the  embassy  of  his  brothers,  "  that 
you  are  young,  and  have  neither  judgment  nor  expe 
rience,  or  you  would  never  speak  as  you  have  done 
of  these  hated  white  men  !  You  extol  them  greatly 
as  virtuous  men,  who  injure  no  one.  You  say  that 
they  are  valiant — that  they  are  children  of  the  Sun, 
and  merit  all  our  reverence  and  service.  The  vile 
chains  which  they  have  hung  upon  you,  and  the 
mean  and  dastardly  spirit  which  you  have  acquired 
during  the  short  period  that  you  have  been  their 
slaves,  have  caused  you  to  speak  like  women,  laud 
ing  what  you  should  censure  and  abhor.  You  re 
member  not,  that  these  Christians  can  be  no  better 
than  those  who  formerly  committed  so  many  cruel 
ties  in  this  our  country.  Are  they  not  of  the  same 
nation  and  subject  to  the  same  laws  ?  Do  not  their 
manner  of  life  and  actions  prove  them  to  be  chil 
dren  of  the  Spirit  of  Evil,  and  not  of  the  sun  and 
the  moon,  our  gods  ?  Go  they  not  from  land  to 


120  CONQUEST    OP    FLORIDA. 

land  plundering  and  destroying ;  taking  the  wives 
and  daughters  of  others  instead  of  bringing  their 
own  with  them  ;  and,  like  mere  vagabonds,  main 
taining  themselves  by  the  laborious  toil  and  sweat 
ing  brow  of  others  ?  Were  they  virtuous,  as  you 
represent,  they  never  would  have  left  their  own 
country,  since  there  they  might  have  practised  their 
virtues,  planting  and  cultivating  the  earth,  maintain 
ing  themselves  without  prejudice  to  others  or  injury 
to  themselves  ;  instead  of  roving  about  the  world 
committing  robberies  and  murders,  having  neither 
the  shame  of  men  nor  the  fear  of  God  before  them. 

Warn  them  not  to  enter  into  my  dominions,  for  I 
vow  that,  as  valiant  as  they  may  be,  if  they  dare  to 
put  foot  upon  my  soil,  they  shall  never  go  out  of  my 
land  alive — the  whole  race  will  I  exterminate  !"* 

This  was  the  first  reply  of  the  fierce  Vitachuco  ; 
but  he  sent  many  others,  insomuch  that  every  day 
there  arrived  two  or  three  Indians,  sounding  always 
a  trumpet,  and  bringing  greater  bravadoes  and 
menaces  than  the  last.  The  Cacique  Vitachuco 
thought  to  terrify  them  by  the  various  and  hideous 
supernatural  deaths,  with  which  he  menaced  them. 
At  one  time  he  threatened,  that  the  moment  they 
entered  his  province,  the  earth  should  open  and 

*The  Inca.  P.  1,  L.  2,  c.  21. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  121 

swallow  them  ;  that  the  hills  by  which  the  Span 
iards  would  have  to  travel,  should  join  together  and 
bury  them  alive.  Again,  the  trees  of  the  forest 
through  which  they  had  to  pass,  were  to  be  blown 
down  and  crush  them ;  flights  of  birds  were  to  hover 
over  and  pounce  upon  them,  with  corroding  poison 
in  their  beaks.  And  again,  that  he  would  have  the 
waters,  herbs,  trees,  and  even  the  air  poisoned,  in 
such  a  manner  that  neither  horse  nor  rider,  man  nor 
beast,  could  escape  with  life  ;  making  an  example 
of  them  to  all  who  should  henceforth  dare  to  invade 
his  territory. 

These  extravagancies  provoked  the  laughter  of 
the  Spaniards,  who  considered  them  the  empty  bra 
vadoes  of  a  vapouring  spirit ;  but  the  deeds  of  the 
Cacique  afterwards  showed  that  they  were  the  furi 
ous  wishes  and  conceptions  of  a  proud  warrior; 
who,  it  is  probable,  was  promised  all  these  miracles 
in  his  favour  by  some  Indian  prophet. 

These  and  many  other  messages  arrived  during 
eight  days  that  were  spent  by  the  Governor  in  tra 
velling  about  the  domains  of  the  two  brothers,  who 
did  every  thing  in  their  power  to  gratify  the  Span 
iards.  At  length  the  two  brothers  themselves 
departed  on  a  mission  to  Vitachuco.  The  fierce 
chieftain  pretended  to  be  at  length  won  by  their 
persuasions,  and  agreed  to  enter  into  friendly  inter- 
11 


122  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

course  with  the  strangers  ;  but  he  wished  first  to 
know  how  many  days  they  would  be  in  his  domains, 
what  quantity  of  provisions  they  would  require 
when  they  departed,  and  what  other  things  wrould 
be  necessary  for  their  journey. 

The  two  brothers  sent  an  envoy  to  De  Soto  with 
this  message,  who  replied,  that  they  would  not  so 
journ  in  the  territory  of  Vitachuco  longer  than  he 
desired  them  to  remain,  nor  did  they  wish  any  more 
provisions  than  he  saw  fit  to  give  them,  neither  had 
they  need  of  any  thing  besides  his  friendship. 


123 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Cacique  Vitachuco  dissembles — his  plot  to  de 
stroy  the  Spaniards. 

1539.  THE  chieftain,  Vitachuco,  pretended  to  be 
well  contented  with  the  reply  of  the  Governor,  a 
day  was  appointed  for  their  meeting,  and  the  Ca 
cique  ordered  an  abundant  supply  of  provisions 
for  the  troops  and  horses  to  be  brought  from  all 
parts  of  his  domains,  and  deposited  in  the  chief 
village. 

On  the  appointed  day  Vitachuco  went  forth  from 
his  village,  accompanied  by  his  two  brothers  and 
five  hundred  Indian  warriors,  all  graceful  men, 
adorned  with  plumes  of  various  colours,  and  armed 
with  bows  and  arrows  of  the  finest  workmanship. 
At  the  distance  of  two  leagues  they  found  the  Gover 
nor,  .encamped  with  his  army  in  a  beautiful  valley. 

Their  meeting  was  cordial,  and  the  Cacique  en 
deavoured  to  atone  for  past  threats  and  menaces, 
by  professions  of  present  amity  and  promises  of  fu 
ture  services  and  allegiance,  all  which  were  gra 
ciously  received  by  De  Soto, 


124  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

Vitachuco  was  about  thirty-five  years  of  age,  of 
very  good  stature,  and  strongly  formed,  as  the  In 
dians  of  Florida  generally  were,  and  evinced  in  his 
countenance  the  bravery  of  his  spirit. 

The  ensuing  day  the  Spaniards  entered  in  order 
of  battle,  into  the  principal  village,  bearing  the  same 
name  as  the  Cacique.  It  consisted  of  two  hundred 
houses,  large  and  strong,  besides  many  others  of 
smaller  size  which  were  in  the  suburbs.  The  Go 
vernor  and  his  body  guards  and  servants,  together 
with  the  three  brother  Caciques,  lodged  in  the  house 
of  Vitachuco,  as  it  was  of  ample  size  to  accommo 
date  them  all. 

Two  days  were  passed  in  feasting  and  rejoicing. 
On  the  third  day,  the  two  brothers  of  Vitachuco  ob 
tained  leave  to  return  to  their  respective  territories, 
and  departed  well  pleased  with  the  good  treatment 
and  the  many  presents  they  had  received  from  the 
Spaniards. 

After  their  departure,  Vitachuco  redoubled  his 
courtesy  and  kindness  to  the  Spaniards,  and  seemed 
as  if  he  thought  he  could  not  do  enough  to  serve 
and  gratify  them.  Five  days  only  had  elapsed,  how 
ever,  when  Juan  Ortiz  came  to  the  Governor  and 
informed  him  of  a  perfidious  plot  devised  by  the  Ca 
cique,  and  which  had  been  revealed  to  him  by  four 
of  the  Indian  interpreters.  He  had  selected  several 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  125 

thousand  of  his  bravest  warriors,  and  had  ordered 
them  to  conceal  their  weapons  in  a  thicket  near  to 
the  village,  and  to  appear  at  all  times  unarmed,  so 
as  to  throw  the  Spaniards  off  their  guard.  On  an 
appointed  day  he  was  to  invite  the  Governor  to 
go  forth  and  see  a  general  muster  of  his  subjects, 
drawn  up  in  battle  array,  though  without  weapons, 
that  he  might  know  what  a  number  of  Indian  al 
lies  he  had  at  his  command  for  his  future  con 
quests. 

Trusting  that  the  Governor,  from  the  amity  exist 
ing  between  them,  would  go  forth  carelessly  and 
alone,  a  dozen  of  the  fiercest  and  most  powerful  In 
dians  were  suddenly  to  seize  him  and  bear  him  into 
the  midst  of  their  warriors;  who,  seizing  their  arms, 
were  to  attack  the  Spaniards  in  their  camp.  In  this 
way,  between  the  surprise  of  the  sudden  assault, 
and  the  dismay  at  the  capture  of  their  General,  he 
trusted  to  have  an  easy  conquest  i  in  which  case, 
he  intended  to  make  good  his  extravagant  me 
naces,  and  inflict  on  his  prisoners  all  kinds  of 
strange,  cruel,  and  tormenting  deaths. 

The  Adelantado  having  learnt  the  perfidy  of  the 
Cacique,  and  having  consulted  with  his  Captains,  it 
was  determined  that  the  best  and  most  justifiable 
plan  would  be,  to  take  Vitachuco  in  the  same  way 
that  he  intended  to  take  the  Governor ;  so  that  he 
11* 


126  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

would  thus  fall  into  his  own  snare.  For  that  purpose, 
twelve  of  the  stoutest  soldiers  were  selected,  to  be 
near  the  Governor  at  the  time  he  should  go  forth  to 
view  the  Indian  army,  and  at  a  certain  signal,  were 
to  seize  upon  the  Cacique.  These  things  being  con 
certed  in  secret,  the  Spaniards  watched  Vitachuco's 
movements,  but  at  the  same  time,  maintained  an  air 
of  careless  unconcern. 

The  day  so  much  desired  having  arrived,  Vita- 
chuco  came  to  the  Governor  early  in  the  morning, 
and  with  much  humility  and  seeming  veneration, 
begged  him  to  confer  a  great  favour  on  himself  and 
all  his  subjects,  by  going  out  of  the  camp  to  behold 
them  arranged  in  order  of  battle,  that  he  might 
know  the  number  that  were  at  his  service,  and  might 
see  whether  the  Indians  of  this  country  knew  how 
to  form  their  squadrons  as  well  as  other  nations 
who  he  had  heard  were  skilled  in  the  art  of  war. 

The  Governor  replied,  with  an  unsuspicious  air, 
that  he  would  rejoice  greatly  to  see  them ;  and  that, 
to  make  the  display  more  striking,  and  furnish  the 
Indians  likewise  with  a  sight,  he  would  order  his 
horse  and  foot  soldiers  to  go  out  and  place  them 
selves  in  squadrons  ;  and  have  a  mock  fight  for  each 
other's  entertainment. 

The  Cacique  did  not  much  relish  this  proposition, 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  127 

but  being  blinded  by  his  vengeful  passions,  he  agreed 
to  the  arrangement ;  trusting  to  the  number  and  va 
lour  of  his  vassals  to  overthrow  the  Spaniards,  be 
they  ever  so  well  prepared. 


128 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Battle  with  Vitachuco. 

1539.  ALL  things  being  arranged,  the  Spaniards 
inarched  forth,  horse  and  foot,  in  battle  array,  with 
glittering  arms  and  fluttering  banners.  As  to  the 
Governor,  he  remained  behind,  to  accompany  the 
Cacique  on  foot,  the  better  to  appear  unsuspicious 
of  the  latent  treason.  He  went,  however,  secretly 
armed ;  and  he  ordered  two  of  his  finest  horses  to 
be  led  forth  caparisoned  for  service.  One  of  these, 
is  especially  mentioned  as  a  beautiful  and  noble  spi 
rited  animal.  He  was  named  Aceytuno,  after  Ma- 
teo  de  Aceytuno,  a  brave  cavalier  who  had  made 
him  a  present  to  the  Governor. 

Near  the  village  was  a  large  plain.  It  had  on  one 
side  a  lofty  and  dense  forest,  on  the  other,  two 
lakes :  the  one  about  a  league  in  circumference, 
clear  of  trees,  but  so  deep,  that  three  or  four  feet 
from  the  bank  no  footing  could  be  found.  The  se 
cond,  which  was  at  greater  distance  from  the  village, 
was  more  than  half  a  league  in  width,  and  appear 
ed  like  a  vast  river,  extending  as  far  as  the  eye 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  129 

could  reach.  Between  the  forest  and  these  two 
lakes,  the  Indians  formed  their  squadrons,  having  the 
lakes  on  their  right  flank,  and  the  forest  on  the  left. 
Their  bows  and  arrowrs  were  concealed  in  the  grass, 
in  orderthat  they  might  appear  to  be  totally  unarm 
ed.  Their  force  might  be  about  ten  thousand,  cho 
sen  warriors,  decorated  with  lofty  plumes,  which 
increased  their  apparent  height ;  and,  being  drawn 
out  with  somewhat  of  military  order,  they  made  a 
beautiful  display. 

The  Cacique  and  Hernando  de  Soto  came  forth 
on  foot,  each  accompanied  by  twelve  of  his  people, 
and  each  burning  with  the  same  spirit  and  determi 
nation  against  the  other.  The  Spanish  troops  were 
to  the  right  of  the  Governor  ;  the  infantry  drawn  up 
near  to  the  forest,  and  the  cavalry  advanced  into 
the  plain. 

It  was  between  nine  and  ten  of  the  morning, 
when  De  Soto  and  Vitachuco  r.rrived  at  the  spot, 
which  the  latter  had  fixed  upon  for  the  seizure  of 
the  Governor.  Before  the  Cacique,  however,  could 
make  his  preconcerted  signal,  a  Spanish  trumpet 
gave  a  warning  blast.*  In  an  instant  the  twelve 
Spaniards  rushed  upon  the  Cacique.  His  attendant 
Indians  threw  themselves  before  him,  and  endea- 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  11. 


130  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

voured  to  repel  the  assailants,  but  in  vain.  He  was 
borne  off  captive. 

At  the  same  time,De  Soto  leaped  upon  his  favour 
ite  steed  AceytuHo,  and  spurred  him  upon  the  thick 
est  of  the  enemy,  with  that  headlong  valour  w?hich 
always  distinguished  him  in  battle.  The  Indians 
had  already  seized  their  weapons.  Their  first  ranks 
were  thrown  into  confusion  by  the  impetuous 
charge  of  De  Soto  ;  but  as  he  pressed  forward,  a 
shower  of  arrows  came  whistling  about  him.  They 
were  principally  aimed  at  his  horse,  the  Indians  al 
ways  seeking  most  to  kill  these  animals,  knowing 
their  importance  in  battle.  Four  of  the  arrows 
wounded  the  generous  animal  in  the  knees,  four 
pierced  him  in  the  breast,  and  he  fell  to  the  earth 
dead,  as  if  shot  by  a  piece  of  artillery.*  . 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Spanish  troops  at  the  trum 
pet  signal,  had  assailed  the  Indian  squadrons,  and 
now  came  pressing  up  at  this  critical  moment,  to  the 
aid  of  their  general.  One  of  his  pages  named  Vio- 
ta,  a  youth  of  noble  birth,  sprang  from  his  horse  and 
aided  De  Soto  to  mount  him.  The  Governor  once 
more  on  horseback,  put  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
cavalry,  and  spurred  among  the  Indians.  The  lat- 

*  Herrera.  Decad.  6.  L.  7,  c.  11. 

Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  P.  1,  L.  2.  c.  23. 
Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  11. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  131 

terhad  no  lances  to  defend  themselves  ;  and,  being 
assailed  by  three  hundred  horse,  broke  and  fled  in 
every  direction.  A  great  number  of  those  who 
were  in  the  rear,  took  refuge  among  the  entangled 
thickets  of  the  forest ;  others,  threw  themselves  into 
the  large  lake  and  escaped,  while  others  again  scat 
tered  themselves  wildly  over  the  plain,  where  more 
than  three  hundred  were  killed,  and  a  few  taken. 

The  worse  fate  attended  the  vanguard,  compos 
ed  of  the  bravest  warriors  ;  who  are  always  doom 
ed  to  fare  the  worst  in  battle.  After  receiving  the 
first  impetuous  charge  of  the  cavalry,  they  fled; 
but,  being  unable  to  reach  either  the  forest,  or  the 
large  lake,  more  than  nine  hundred  threw  them 
selves  into  the  smaller  one.  Here  they  were  sur 
rounded  by  the  Spaniards,  who  endeavoured  by 
threats  and  promises,  and  occasional  shots  from 
their  cross  bows,  and  arquebusses,  to  induce  them 
to  surrender.  The  Indians  replied  only  by  flights 
of  arrows.  As  the  lake  was  too  deep  to  give  them 
footing,  three  or  four  would  cling  together,  and  sup 
port  each  other  by  swimming,  while  one  would 
mount  upon  their  backs,  and  ply  his  bow  and  ar 
rows.  In  this  way  an  incessant  skirmishing  was 
kept  up  all  day  long  ;  numbers  of  the  Indians  were 
slain,  all  their  arms  were  exhausted,  yet  no  one 
gave  signs  of  surrendering. 


132  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

When  night  came,  the  Spaniards  posted  them 
selves  round  the  lake,  the  horse  by  two  and  two, 
the  foot  in  parties  of  six,  near  to  each  other,  lest  the 
Indians  should  escape  in  the  dark.  Some  of  the 
latter  endeavoured  to  save  themselves,  by  covering 
their  heads  with  the  leaves  of  water  lilies,  and 
swimming  noiselessly  to  the  shore  ;  but,  the  watch 
ful  troopers  perceiving  the  turmoil  and  bubbling  in 
the  water,  would  spur  their  horses  to  the  bank,  and 
drive  the  Indians  again  into  the  channel,*  in  hopes 
of  tiring  them  out,  and  thus  forcing  them  to  capitu 
late  ;  for,  while  the  Spaniards  threatened  them  with 
death,  if  they  did  not  yield,  they  offered  them  peace 
and  friendship  if  they  would  surrender. 

So  obstinate  were  they,  however,  that  midnight 
arrived  before  one  of  them  had  submitted,  although 
they  had  passed  fourteen  hours  in  the  water.  At 
length,  however,  the  intercessions  of  Juan  Ortiz,  and 
the  four  Indian  interpreters,  began  to  have  effect. 
The  most  weary  would  render  themselves,  one  and 
two  at  a  time,  but  so  slowly,  that  by  the  dawn  of 
day  not  more  than  fifty  had  surrendered.  The  re 
sidue  seeing  that  these  were  kindly  treated,  and 
being  admonished  by  them,  now  gave  themselves  up 
in  greater  numbers,  but  still  slowly  and  reluctantly. 
Some  when  near  the  bank  would  return  to  the  mid- 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  11. 


CONQUEST   OF   FLORIDA.  133 

die  of  the  lake,  until  the  love  of  life  compelled  them 
to  yield.  At  length,  at  ten  o'clock,  two  hundred 
came  to  shore  at  the  same  time,  and  surrendered 
themselves,  after  having  been  swimming  four  and 
twenty  hours.  They  were  in  wretched  condition, 
swollen  with  the  water  they  had  swallowed,  and 
overcome  with  fatigue,  hunger,  and  the  want  of  sleep. 
There  still  remained  seven  Indians  in  the  lake,  men 
of  such  unconquerable  spirit  that  neither  the  prayers 
of  the  interpreters,  the  promises  of  the  Governor, 
nor  the  example  of  their  comrades,  who  had  sur 
rendered,  had  any  effect  upon  them.*  They  treat 
ed  all  promises  with  scorn,  and  defied  both  menaces 
and  death.  In  this  wTay  they  remained  until  three  in 
the  afternoon,  and  would  have  remained  there  until 
they  died.  The  Governor,  however,  was  struck 
with  admiration  of  their  courage  and  magnanimity, 
and  thought  it  would  be  inhuman  to  allow  such 
brave  men  to  perish.  He  ordered  twelve  Spaniards 
therefore,  expert  swimmers,  to  go  into  the  lake  with 
their  swords  in  their  mouths,  and  draw  these  war 
riors  forth.  The  Indians  were  too  much  exhausted 
to  resist ;  the  Spaniards  seized  them  by  the  legs, 
the  arms,  and  hair,  drew  them  t6  land,  and  threw 
them  upon  the  bank,  where  they  lay  extended  upon 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  11. 
12 


134  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

the  sane,  more  dead  than  alive  ;*  having  according 
to  the  Spanish  narrator,  been  for  thirty  hours  in  the 
water,  apparently  without  putting  foot  to  the  ground 
or  receiving  any  other  relief:  an  exploit,  adds  the 
Inca  historian,  almost  incredible,  and  which  I  would 
not  dare  to  write,  if  it  werev  not  for  the  authority 
of  so  many  cavaliers  and  nobles,  who,  in  the  In 
dies,  and  in  Spain,  assured  me  of  the  truth  of  it, 
besides  the  authority  of  him  who  related  this  histo 
ry  to  me,  and  who,  in  all  things,  is  worthy  of  belief. 

The  reader,  however,  without  questioning  the 
veracity  of  the  cavaliers,  will  be  prone  to  surmise 
that  the  Indians  were  enabled,  from  time  to  time,  to 
snatch  a  few  moments  of  repose,  on  shallows  near 
the  banks  of  the  lake. 

The  heroic  obstinacy  of  the  seven  Indians,  had 
extorted  the  admiration  of  the  Spaniards.  Moved 
to  compassion  by  their  present  deplorable  state, 
they  bore  them  to  the  encampment ;  and  used  such 
assiduous  means,  that  they  were  restored  to  anima 
tion  in  the  course  of  the  night. 

The  next  morning,  the  Governor  summoned  them 
before  him,  and  pretending  to  be  angry,  demanded 

*  The  Portuguese  Narrative  adds,  that  they  were  immediately 
put  into  irons.  The  Inca's  account,  however,  of  the  treatment  of 
the  Spaniards  towards  these  brave  warriors,  is  more  in  unison 
with  the  generous  nature  of  De  Soto. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  135    a 

the  reason  of  their  desperate  resistance,  and  why 
they  had  not  surrendered  themselves  as  their  com 
panions  had  done. 

Four  of  them,  who  were  in  the  prime  of  man 
hood,  replied,  that  they  were  leaders,  or  captains, 
chosen  as  such  by  their  Cacique,  from  his  confi 
dence  in  their  courage  and  constancy.  Their  ac 
tions  were  to  justify  his  choice.  They  were  bound 
to  set  an  example  to  their  children,  to  their  brother 
warriors,  and  above  all.  to  such  as  should  thence 
forth  be  appointed  as  leaders.  They  felt  as  if  being 
alive,  they  had  failed  in  fulfilling  their  duty,  and 
vindicating  their  honour  ;  and,  while  they  acknow 
ledged  the  kindness  of  the  Governor,  regretted  only 
that  he  had  not  left  them  to  perish  in  the  lake.  "  If 
you  want  to  add  to  your  favours,"  said  they,  "  take 
our  lives.  After  surviving  the  defeat  and  capture  of 
our  chieftain,  we  are  not  worthy  to  appear  before 
him,  or  to  live  in  the  world."* 

The  Governor  listened  with  admiration  to  the  he 
roic  words  of  these  savage  warriors  ;  and  when 
they  had  finished,  he  turned  to  their  three  compa 
nions,  who  had  remained  silent.  These  were  young 
men  not  more  than  eighteen  years  of  age,  sons  and 
heirs  to  Caciques  of  the  adjacent  provinces.  The 

*  Gareilaso  de  la  Vega.  P.  1,  L.  2,  c.  25. 
Herrera.  Decad,  6,  L,  7,  c.  11. 


136  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

Governor  demanded  of  them  their  reason  for  persist 
ing  so  desperately  in  their  defence,  as  they  were 
not  leaders,  nor  bound  by  the  same  obligations,  as 
their  companions. 

They  replied  with  a  proud  and  lofty  air,  that  they 
had  been  incited  to  hostility,  not  through  a  desire 
for  gain,  or  through  any  implacable  spirit  against  the 
Spaniards,  but,  merely  from  a  thirst  for  glory. 
That  although  they  were  not  chiefs,  yet  as  the  sons 
of  Caciques,  and  destined  one  day  to  be  Caciques 
themselves,  they  felt  bound  more  than  all  others  to 
signalize  themselves  by 'bravery  in  action,  and  by  a 
contempt  for  suffering  and  death.  "  These,  O  off 
spring  of  the  sun  !"  said  they,  "  are  the  reasons  for 
our  obstinate  hostility :  if  they  are  sufficient  in  your 
eyes,  pardon  us ;  if  not,  we  are  at  your  mercy. 
Strike  us  dead,  for  nothing  is  prohibited  to  the  con 
queror." 

The  noble  spirit  and  heroic  words  of  these  gene 
rous  youths,  charmed  all  the  Spaniards  who  were 
present ;  and  their  hearts  were  touched  at  seeing 
them  exposed  so  young,  to  such  adversity.  The 
Governor  likewise,  who  was  of  a  compassionate 
nature,  was  moved  to  pity.  He  arose  and  embraced 
them  as  if  they  were  his  own  sons ;  commending 
their  valour  and  heroism,  which  he  considered  as 
proofs  of  noble  blood,  and  illustrious  descent. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  137 

For  two  days,  he  detained  them  in  the  camp,  feast 
ing  them  at  his  table,  and  treating  thsm  with  every 
distinction  ;  at  the  end  of  which  time,  he  dismissed 
them  with  presents  of  linen,  cloths,  silks,  mirrors,  and 
other  articles  of  Spanish  manufacture.  He  also 
sent  by  them  presents  to  their  fathers  and  other  re 
lations,  with  proffers  of  his  friendship.  The  young 
Caciques  took  leave  of  him  with  many  expressions 
of  gratitude,  and  departed  joyfully  for  their  homes, 
accompanied  by  a  number  of  their  countrymen 
whom  he  had  liberated. 

As  to  the  four  captive  leaders,  they  were  retained 
as  prisoners,  and  on  the  following  day  were  sum 
moned  before  the  Governor,  with  their  Cacique  Vi- 
tachuco.  De  Soto  reproached  them  all  with  the 
treacherous  and  murderous  plot  they  had  devised 
against  him  and  his  soldiers,  at  a  time  when  they 
were  professing  the  kindest  amity.  Such  treason, 
he  observed,  merited  death:  yet,  he  wished  to  give 
the  natives  an  evidence  of  his  clemency :  he  par 
doned  them,  therefore,  and  restored  them  to  his 
friendship  ;  warning  them,  however,  to  beware  how 
they  again  deceived  him,  or  trespassed  against  the 
safety  and  welfare  of  Spaniards,  lest  they  should 
bring  down  upon  themselves  dire  and  terrible  re 
venge. 

The  Indians  who  had  come  out  of  the  lake  and 
12* 


138  CONQUEST    OF^  FLORIDA. 

surrendered  themselves,  were  distributed  among  the 
Spaniards  to  serve  them  as  menials,  during  their  so 
journ  in  the  province.  This  was  partly  as  a  punish 
ment  to  them  for  their  participation  in  the  late  trea 
son,  and  partly  as  an  example  to  warn  the  neigh 
bouring  Indians  from  like  aggressions. 


139 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Death  of  Vitachuco  and  his  warriors. 

1539.  VITACHUCO  now  remained  in  some  sort  a 
prisoner  in  his  own  house,  but  was  treated  with 
great  kindness  and  respect,  and  dined  at  the  Gover 
nor's  table.  Rage  and  hatred,  however,  still  rankled 
in  his  heart ;  and  he  soon  conceived  another  scheme 
of  vengeance.  Nine  hundred  of  his  most  noble,  va 
liant,  and  well  tried  warriors,  were  dispersed  among 
the  Spaniards  ;  equalling  the  latter  in  number,  and, 
as  he  thought,  in  personal  prowess.  They  attended 
their  new  masters  as  slaves  at  meal  times,  when  the 
Spaniards  would  be  seated,  off  their  guard,  and 
many  of  them  without  weapons.  At  such  a  mo 
ment,  he  conceived  it  would  be  easy,  by  a  precon 
certed  movement,  for  the  Indians  to  strike  a  signal 
blow  that  should  rid  them  at  once  of  their  oppres 
sions. 

Scarcely  had  Vitachuco  conceived  this  rash 
scheme,  than  he  hastened  to  put  it  into  operation. 
He  had  four  young  Indians  to  attend  him  as  pages. 
These  he  sent  to  the  principal  prisoners  revealing 


140  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

his  plan,  with  orders  that  they  should  pass  it  secretly 
and  adroitly  from  one  to  another,  and  hold  them 
selves  in  readiness,  at  the  appointed  time,  to  carry 
it  into  effect.  The  dinner  hour  of  the  third  day  was 
the  time  fixed  upon  for  striking  the  blow.  Vitachuco 
would  be  dining  with  the  Governor,  and  the  Indians 
in  general  attending  upon  their  respective  masters. 
The  Cacique  was  to  watch  his  opportunity,  spring 
upon  the  Governor  and  kill  him  ;  giving,  at  the  mo 
ment  of  assault,  a  war-whoop  that  should  resound 
throughout  the  village.  The  war-whoop  was  to  be 
the  signal  for  every  Indian  in  the  place  to  grapple 
with  his  master,  or  with  any  other  Spaniard  that 
might  be  at  hand,  and  despatch  him  oh  the  spot. 

Many  of  the  poor  Indians  saw  the  perfect  mad 
ness  of  this  second  project ;  but,  accustomed  to  yield 
implicit  obedience  to  their  chiefs,  they  nevertheless 
promised  to  carry  it  through  or  perish  in  the  at 
tempt. 

On  the  day  appointed,  Vitachuco  dined  as  usual 
at  the  table  of  the  Governor,  who  sought  to  win  his 
friendship  by  the  kindest  attentions.  When  the  re 
past  was  concluded,  he  straightened  himself  upon 
the  bench  upon  which  he  was  seated,  and  twisting 
his  body  from  side  to  side,  he  stretched  first  one 
arm,  then  the  other,  to  the  full  extent,  with  clinched 
fists,  then  drew  them  up  so  that  his  fists  rested  on 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  141 

his  shoulders,  then  jerked  them  out  two  or  three 
times,  until  every  joint  cracked  like  a  snapped  reed. 
In  this  way  the  Indians  of  Florida  used  to  rally  their 
strength  when  about  to  undertake  any  extraordinary 
feat. 

After  this  preparation  the  Cacique  sprang  upon 
his  feet,  closed  instantly  with  the  Governor,  at  whose 
side  he  had  been  seated,  and  seized  him  with  the 
left  hand  by  the  collar  ;  with  the  other  fist  he  dealt 
him  such  a  furious  blow  in  the  face  as  to  level  him 
with  the  ground,  the  blood  gushing  out  of  eyes, 
nose,  and  mouth,  as  if  he  had  been  struck  with  a 
club.  The  Cacique  threw  himself  upon  his  victim 
to  finish  his  work,  giving,  at  the  same  time,  the  sig 
nal  war-whoop,  with  such  force  that  it  might  be 
heard  for  a  quarter  of  a  league  about. 

All  this  was  the  work  of  an  instant,  and  before 
the  officers  present  had  time  to  recover  from  their 
astonishment,  the  Governor  lay  senseless  beneath 
the  tiger  grasp  of  Vitachuco.  One  more  blow  from 
the  savage  would  have  been  fatal ;  but  before  he 
could  give  it,  a  dozen  swords  and  lances  were  thrust 
through  his  body,  and  he  fell  dead,  blaspheming 
heaven  and  earth  at  having  failed  in  his  attempt. 

The  war-whoop  of  the  Cacique  had  been  heard 
and  obeyed  by  his  subjects  throughout  the  village. 
At  hearing  the  fated  signal,  the  Indians,  who  were 


142  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

attending  upon  their  masters,  assailed  them  with 
whatever  weapon  or  missile  they  could  command  : 
some  seized  upon  pikes  and  swords,  and  wielded 
them  with  great  skill ;  others  snatched  up  the  pots 
in  which  meat  was  stewing  at  the  fire,  and,  beating 
the  Spaniards  about  the  head,  bruised  and  scalded 
them  at  the  same  lime  ;  some  caught  up  plates, 
pitchers,  jars,  and  the  pestles  wherewith  they 
pounded  the  maize ;  others  the  bones  remaining 
from  the  repast ;  and  others  seized  upon  stools, 
benches,  and  tables,  striking  with  impotent  fury 
when  their  weapons  had  not  the  power  to  harm. 
The  greater  number,  however,  snatched  up  burning 
firebrands,  which  seemed  to  have  been  provided  for 
the  purpose,  and  rushed  like  very  devils  into  the 
affray. 

In  this  chance  medley  fight,  many  of  the  Spaniards 
were  terribly  burnt,  bruised,  and  scalded  ;  some  had 
their  arms  broken,  others  were  maimed  by  sticks 
and  stones.  One  was  knocked  down  by  his  slave 
with  a  firebrand  and  beset  by  three  other  Indians, 
who  dashed  out  his  brains. 

Another  was  assailed  with  blows,  his  teeth  knock 
ed  out,  and  he  was  on  the  point  of  falling  a  sacrifice, 
when  some  Spaniards  came  to  his  assistance. 
The  savage  assailant  fled  and  mounted  a  hand  lad 
der  into  a  granary  opening  upon  a  court  yard,  tak- 


CONQUEST  OP  FLORIDA.  143 

ing  with  him  a  lance  which  he  found  leaning  against 
the  wall.  The  Spaniards  attempted  to  ascend  after 
him,  but  he  planted  himself  in  the  door  way,  and 
defended  the  entrance  so  bravely  with  the  lance, 
that  no  one  dared  to  approach  him.*  At  length, 
Diego  de  Soto,  a  relative  of  the  Governor,  arrived 
in  the  court  yard,  armed  with  a  cross-bow.  He 
presented  it  and  took  aim.  The  Indian  never  at 
tempted  to  draw  back  or  screen  himself;  his  object 
was,  not  to  save  his  life,  but  to  sell  it  as  dearly  as 
possible.  At  the  instant  that  De  Soto  drew  the  bow 
he  threw  the  lance.  The  steeled  point  grazed  the 
right  shoulder  of  the  Spaniard  and  the  shaft  knock 
ed  him  down  upon  his  knees,  passing  half  a  length 
beyond,  and  remaining  quivering  in  the  ground. 
The  aim  of  De  Soto  was  more  certain.  His  shaft 
pierced  the  Indian  through  the  breast  and  killed  him 
on  the  spot. 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  Spaniards  that  most  of 
the  Indians  were  in  chains,  and  none  of  them  were 
regularly  armed,  otherwise  their  assault  would  have 
been  attended  with  great  carnage.  As  it  was,  many 
of  the  Spaniards  were  maimed  and  mangled,  and 
four  were  slain  before  the  savages  could  be  over 
powered. 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  11. 


144  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

A  signal  vengeance  was  then  taken  upon  the  pri 
soners.  Some  of  the  Spaniards  were  so  exaspe 
rated  at  the  wounds  they  had  received,  and  at  the  in 
telligence  of  the  maltreatment  of  the  Governor,  that 
they  wreaked  their  fury  upon  every  Indian  in  their 
power.  Others,  who  were  cavaliers,  thought  it  be 
neath  their  dignity  to  take  away  the  lives  of  slaves 
They  brought  their  prisoners,  therefore,  to  the  grand 
square  of  the  village,  and  delivered  them  into  the 
hands  of  the  archers  of  the  General's  guard,  who 
despatched  them  with  their  halberts. 

Among  the  cavaliers  who  thus  brought  their  cap 
tive  slaves  to  be  executed,  was  one  of  a  small  and 
delicate  form,  named  Francisco  de  Saldana.  He 
entered  the  square,  leading  after  him  a  powerful  In 
dian,  by  a  cord  tied  round  his  neck.  No  sooner, 
however,  did  the  savage  perceive  what  was  passing, 
and  the  fate  that  awaited  him,  than,  driven  to  des 
peration,  he  closed  upon  Saldana  as  he  walked  be 
fore  him,  seized  him  with  one  hand  by  the  neck  and 
with  the  other  by  the  thigh,  raised  him  like  a  child, 
turned  him  topsy  turvy  with  his  head  downwards, 
and  dashed  him  to  the  ground  with  a  violence  that 
stunned  him.  Jumping  then  upon  his  body  he  would 
have  despatched  him  in  an  instant  had  not  a  num 
ber  of  Spaniards  rushed  with  drawn  swords  to  his 
rescue.  The  Indian  seized  Saldana' s  sword,  and  re- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  145 

ceived  them  so  bravely,  that  though  there  were 
more  than  fifty,  he  kept  them  all  at  bay.  Grasping 
the  sword  with  both  hands,  he  threw  himself  into 
the  midst  of  them,  whirling  himself  round  like  a 
wheel,  and  dealing  about  blows  so  rapidly  and  madly 
that  no  one  dare  oppose  him,  and  they  were  oblig 
ed  to  shoot  him  down  with  their  firearms.* 

These,  and  many  similar  scenes  of  desperate  va 
lour,  occurred  in  this  wild  affray.  That  the  inter 
preters  and  the  Indian  allies  who  had  accompanied 
the  army  from  the  other  provinces  might  be  em 
broiled  with  the  natives  of  the  neighbourhood,  so 
that  they  would  not  dare  thenceforward  to  abandon 
the  Spaniards,  they  were  compelled  to  aid  in  the 
destruction  of  the  prisoners,  many  of  whom  were 
tied  to  stakes  in  the  public  square,  and  shot  down 
with  their  arrows. f 

In  these  battles  and  the  subsequent  massacres, 
fell  Vitachuco  and  thirteen  hundred  of  his  warriors, 
the  flower  of  his  nation,  among  whom  were  the  four 
brave  leaders  who  had  survived  from  the  lake. 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  11.  fldem. 

The  Portuguese  narrator  calls  the  village  whore  this  affray 
took  place  Napataca. 


13 


146 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Army  pass  through  the  province  of  Osachile. 
Come  to  a  vast  morass.  Severe  skirmishing  with 
the  Savages.  Preparations  to  cross  the  great  mo 
rass. 

1539.  THE  blow  which  the  Governor,  Hernando 
De  Soto,  had  received  from  Vitachuco,  had  been  so 
violent  that  it  was  half  an  hour  before  he  received  his 
senses.  His  whole  face  was  bruised  and  disfigured, 
and  several  of  his  teeth  were  broken,  so  that  for 
twenty  days  he  could  partake  of  no  solid  food.  It 
was  necessary  to  remain  four  days  in  the  village, 
before  he  and  his  wounded  soldiers  were  sufficient 
ly  recovered,  to  bear  a  journey;  On  the  fifth  day, 
he  resumed  his  march,  departing  in  search  of  ano 
ther  province,  called  Osachile.* 

The  first  day  they  journeyed  four  leagues,  and 
encamped  on  the  bank  of  a  large  and  deep  river, 
which  divides  the  two  provinces,  and  over  which  it 
was  necessary  to  throw  a  bridge.  They  had 
scarcely  begun  their  preparations,  however,  when 

*  This  name  is  spelled  Uzachil,  by  the  Portuguese  Narrator. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  147 

they  beheld  the  Indians  on  the  opposite  side,  in  hos 
tile  array.  Abandoning  their  construction  of  the 
bridge,  they  hastily  formed  six  rafts,  on  which  a 
hundred  men  passed  over,  cross-bow  men  and  ar- 
quebusiers,  and  fifty  horsemen,  carrying  with  them 
the  saddles  for  their  horses. 

As  soon  as  these  reached  the  land,  their  horses 
were  driven  into  the  water,  and  made  to  swim 
across.^  Their  owners  received  them  on  the  shore, 
saddled  and  mounted  them  immediately,  and  gal 
loped  out  into  the  plain.  At  sight  of  them,  the  In 
dians  took  to  flight ;  and  the  Spaniards  worked 
without  molestation  at  the  bridge,  which  was  finish 
ed  in  a  day  and  a  half. 

The  army  passed  the  river,  and  after  travelling 
two  leagues  through  a  country  free  from  woods, 
came  to  large  fields  of  maize,  beans,  and  pumpkins, 
with  scattered  habitations.  While  they  were  dispers 
ed  about  the  fields,  a  number  of  Indians  lurking  in 
ambush  among  the  grain,  assailed  them  with  flights 
of  arrows,  by  which  many  of  them  were  wounded. 
The  Spaniards  started  in  pursuit  of  them  Jance  in 
hand.  There  was  some  sharp  skirmishing ;  many 
natives  were  wounded,  and  a  few  taken  prisoners. 
The  latter  had  chains  put  about  their  necks,  and 
were  distributed  among  the  soldiers  ;  and  made  to 


148  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

carry  the  baggage,  pound  the  maize,  and  fulfil  other 
servile  employments.* 

The  Spaniards  arrived  at  Osachile,  a  village 
about  ten  leagues  from  that  of  Vitachuco.  It  con 
tained  two  hundred  houses  which  were  deserted, 
the  Cacique  and  his  people  having  fled  to  the  woods, 
terrified  by  the  rumours  of  the  sanguinary  massa 
cre  of  Vitachuco.f  The  Governor  sent  proffers  of 
peace  and  friendship  to  him  by  the  Indian  prisoners. 
He  made  no  reply,  however,  neither  did  any  of  the 
envoys  return. 

The  village  of  Osachilef  resembled  most  of  the 
Indian  villages  of  Florida.  The  natives  always  en 
deavoured  to  build  upon  high  ground,  or  at  least  to 
erect  the  houses  of  the  Cacique  or  Chief,  upon  an 
eminence.  As  the  country  was  very  level,  and  high 
places  seldom  to  be  found,  they  constructed  artifi 
cial  mounds  of  earth,  the  top  of  each  being  capable 
of  containing  from  ten  to  twenty  houses.  Here  re 
sided  the  Cacique,  his  family,  and  attendants.  At 
the  foot  of  this  hill  was  a  square,  according  to  the 
size  of  the  village,  around  which  were  the  houses  of 
the  leaders,  and  most  distinguished  inhabitants.  The 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  12.         t  Idem. 
t  The  river  Oscilla  may  take  its  name  from  this  old  Indian  vil 
lage  and  province. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  149 

rest  of  the  people  erected  their  wigwams,  as  near 
to  the  dwelling  of  their  chief  as  possible. 

An  ascent  in  a  straight  line  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
feet  wide,  led  to  the  top  of  the  hillock,  and  was 
flanked  on  each  side  by  trunks  of  trees,  joined  one 
to  another,  and  thrust  deep  into  the  earth  ;  other 
trunks  of  trees  formed  a  kind  of  stairway.  All  the 
other  sides  of  the  mound  were  steep  and  inaccessi 
ble. 

While  in  the  village  of  Osachile,  the  Spaniards 
learnt  that  they  were  not  far  from  the  province  of 
Apalachee,  the  country  of  the  Apalachians.  Of  this 
province  they  had  heard  the  most  wonderful  ac 
count  as  to  its  great  extent  and  fertility,  and  the  bra 
very  and  ferocity  of  its  inhabitants.  Throughout 
their  march  the  Indians  had  predicted  that  the  war 
riors  of  Apalachee,  would  transfix  them  with  their 
lances,  hew  them  in  pieces,  or  consume  them  with 
fire.  De  Soto  was  little  moved  by  their  menaces  ; 
his  great  desire  was  to  see  this  boasted  province  ; 
arid,  if  it  were  as  fertile  and  abundant  as  represent 
ed,  to  winter  there.  He  remained,  therefore,  but 
two  days  in  Osachile,  at  the  end  of  which  he  re 
sumed  his  march. 

The  Spaniards  were  three  days  traversing  an  un 
inhabited  desert,  twelve  leagues  in  extent,  which  lay 
between  the  two  provinces,  and  about  noon  on  the 
13* 


150  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

fourth  day,  arrived  at  a  great  morass.*  It  was  bor 
dered  by  forests  of  huge  and  lofty  trees,  with  a 
dense  underwood  of  thorns  and  brambles,  and 
clambering  vines  so  interwoven  and  matted  toge 
ther  as  to  form  a  perfect  barrier.  Through  this,  the 
Indians  had  made  a  Jiarrow  path,  scarce  wide 
enough  for  two  persons  to  walk  abreast.  In  the 
centre  of  the  morass  was  a  sheet  of  water  half  a 
league  in  width,  and  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  in 
extent., 

De  Soto  encamped  at  an  early  hour  on  a  fine 
plain  on  the  skirts  of  the  forest,  and  ordered  out  a 
hundred  foot,  consisting  of  cross-bow  men,  archers, 
and  pike  men,  with  thirty  horse,  and  twelve  expert 
swimmers,  to  explore  the  passage  of  the  morass, 

*  This  is  supposed  by  some  to  have  been  the  great  swamp  of 
Okefenokee,  lying  in  lat.  31°  North,  on  the  frontiers  of  Georgia 
and  Florida.  Mr.  M'Culloch  in  his  Researches,  imagines  it  to 
be  the  Ohahichee  swamp,  and  his  opinion  is  entitled  to  great  cre 
dit,  as  he  has  investigated  the  subject  more  thoroughly  than  most 
writers.  It  must,  however,  remain  a  matter  of  conjecture  and 
uncertainty  ;  for,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  trace  out  the  route  of 
De  Soto  and  his  followers,  at  the  commencement  and  close  of 
their  expedition,  as  the  distances  given  by  both  the  Portuguese 
and  Spanish  chroniclers,  are  often  exaggerated  and  sometimes 
contradictory. 

Vide  Kerr's  Voyages  and  Travels,  V.  5,  p.  456. 

M'Culloch's  Researches,  p.  524. 

Darby's  Florida,  p.  19,20. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  151 

-ascertain  the  depth  of  the  water,  and  search  for  a 
ford,  against  the  following  day. 

The  Spaniards  had  penetrated  but  a  little  dis 
tance  into  the  forest,  when  they  were  opposed  by 
Indian  warriors.  The  passage,  however,  was  so 
narrow,  and  so  completely  walled  on  each  side  by 
thorny  and  impervious  forest,  that  not  more  than 
the  two  foremost  of  each  vanguard  could  come  to 
blows.  The  Spaniards,  therefore,  ordered  two  of 
the  stoutest  to  the  front,  armed  with  sword  and 
buckler,  followed  by  two  others,  cross-bow  men  and 
archers.  In  this  wa^they  drove  the  Indians  before 
them  until  they  came  to  the  water.  Here,  as  both 
parties  could  scatter  themselves,  and  had  room  for 
action,  there  was  some  hard  fighting.  Many  good 
shots  were  given,  and  several  were  killed  and  wound 
ed  on  both  sides. 

Finding  it  impossible,  under  such  heavy  fire,  to 
examine  the  depth  of  the  water,  the  Spaniards  sent 
word  to  the  Governor,  who  came  to  their  aid,  with 
the  best  soldiers  of  the  army.  The  enemy  likewise 
received  a  reinforcement,  and  the  battle  became 
still  more  fierce  and  bloody.  Both  fought  to  their 
waists  in  the  water,  stumbling  about  among  thorns 
and  brambles,  and  twisted  roots,  and  the  sunken 
trunks  of  fallen  trees.  The  Spaniards  were  aware, 
however,  that  it  would  not  do  to  return  without  dis- 


f/ 

or  THE 
UNIVERSITY 

OF 


152  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

covering  the  pass  ;  they  continued,  therefore,  to 
charge  the  enemy  with  great  impetuosity,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  driving  them  out  of  the  water.  They 
found  that  the  narrow  pass  through  the  forest  con 
tinued  through  the  water,  being  cleared  of  thorns 
and  roots,  and  sunken  trees,  so  that  the  Indians 
could  wade  up  to  their  middles,  excepting  over 
about  forty  paces  of  the  mid  channel,  where  it  was 
too  deep  to  be  forded.  This  they  passed  by  a 
bridge  of  two  trees  fastened  together.  The  oppo 
site  side  of  the  morass  was  bordered  by  the  same 
kind  of  impervious  forest  as  the  other,  and,  like  it, 
traversed  by  a  narrow  Indian  path.  The  distance 
through  the  two  forests,  and  across  the  morass,  was 
about  a  league  and  a  half. 

The  Governor,  having  well  reconnoitered  the  pass, 
returned  with  his  men  to  the  encampment.  Here 
he  held  a  council  of  war,  in  which  the  difficulties 
and  dangers  of  the  case  were  discussed,  and  the 
mode  of  meeting  them  determined  upon. 

It  was  arranged  that  two  hundred  picked  men 
should  be  thrown  in  the  advance  to  secure  the  pass, 
and  prepare  the  way  for  the  passage  of  the  main 
body.  One  hundred  of  these  were  to  be  horsemen, 
and  one  hundred  foot  soldiers.  The  former  being 
better  armed  than  the  infantry,  and  protected  by 
bucklers,  always  received  less  injury  from  the  ar- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  153 

rows  of  the  enemy  ;  they  were,  therefore,  to  take 
the  lead,  on  foot,  as  horses  would  only  be  an  embar 
rassment  in  such  a  narrow  pass.  In  this  way  they 
would,  as  it  were,  form  a  shield  to  the  hundred  foot 
soldiers,  consisting  of  arquebusiers  and  archers. 

They  were  all  to  be  provided  with  bills,  hatchets, 
and  other  implements  for  clearing  an  encamping 
place  in  the  opposite  forest,  on  the  side  of  the  mo 
rass  i  for,  as  the  Spaniards  would  have  to  pass  the 
narrow  ford  one  by  one,  in  the  face  of  a  ferocious 
enemy,  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  whole  army 
to  traverse  the  morass,  and  both  borders  of  wood 
land  in  one  day.  It  appeared  advisable,  therefore, 
to  make  a  lodgement  in  the  opposite  forest. 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega.  P.  2.  L.  2.  c.  1. 


154 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Of  the  perilous  passage  of  the  great  morass. 

1539.  An,  the  requisite  preparations  being  made, 
two  hundred  picked  men  sallied  out  of  the  encamp 
ment,  each  soldier  carrying  with  him  in  his  bosom 
his  day's  allowance,  consisting  of  a  little  boiled  or 
toasted  maize.  Two  hours  before  the  dawn  of  day 
they  entered  the  defile  of  the  forest,  which  they 
traversed  as  silently  as  possible  until  they  reached 
the  water.  They  soon  found  the  ford  where  the 
stones,  and  roots,  and  sunken  logs  had  been  cleared 
away  ;  keeping  along  this  they  came  to  the  bridge 
made  of  fallen  trees  and  logs,  across  the  deepest 
part  of  the  channel.  This  they  passed  without  mo 
lestation  from  the  Indians,  who  had  left  the  whole 
pass  unguarded,  not  imagining  that  the  Spaniards 
would  dare  to  penetrate  the  dense  forest,  or  ford  the 
deep  and  perilous  passage  of  the  morass  by  night. 

When  they  perceived  at  daybreak,  however,  that 
they  had  passed  the  bridge,  they  rushed  with  great 
fury  and  loud  cries  and  howls  to  dispute  the  passage 
of  the  morass  yet  to  be  traversed,  which  was  about 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  155 

a  quarter  of  a  league.  The  Spaniards  received 
their  attack  manfully:  both  parties  fought  up  to  the 
j,  middle  in  water.  The  Indians  were  soon  repulsed 
*  and  driven  into  the  defile  of  the  opposite  forest,  into 
which  they  could  only  enter  one  at  a  time.  This 
defile  being  so  narrow,  and  \valled  in  by  an  imper 
vious  forest,  it  was  easy  to  blockade  the  passage 
and  keep  the  enemy  from  sallying  forth.  Forty 
men  were  ordered  to  do  so,  while  the  remaining 
hundred  and  fifty  went  to  work  to  cut  down  trees 
and  clear  a  place  for  the  army  to  encamp. 

In  this  manner  they  remained  all  the  day,  the  In 
dians  in  the  bosom  of  the  forest  shouting  and  yell 
ing,  as  if  to  frighten  with  their  noise  those  whom  they 
would  not  engage  with  their  arms ;  some  of  the  Span 
iards  watching,  the  others  felling  trees  and  burning 
the  fallen  timber.  When  night  came,  each  one  re 
mained  where  he  chanced  to  be.  Disturbed  by  the 
yells  of  the  Indians,  and  obliged  to  maintain  a  constant 
vigilance,  the  Spaniards  passed  a  sleepless  night. 

The  next  morning  the  troops  undertook  the  pas 
sage,  and  although  they  met  with  no  opposition  from 
the  enemy,  they  found  many  difficulties  in  the  ford, 
and,  being  obliged  to  pass  one  by  one,  were  the 
whole  day  in  crossing. 

By  night  they  were  all  encamped  on  the  cleared 
ground,  where,  however,  they  enjoyed  but  little 


156  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

sleep,  in  consequence  of  the  yells  and  attacks  of  the 
enemy. 

At  break  of  day  they  pressed  forward  through  the 
defile  of  the  second  forest,  driving  the  Indians  slowly 
before  them,  who  retreated  step  by  step,  plying  their 
bows  incessantly,  so  that  every  inch  of  the  way 
had  to  be  won  at  the  edge  of  the  sword. 

At  length,  after  fighting  onward  in  this  way  for 
half  a  league,  they  emerged  from  this  dense  and 
thorny  forest  into  more  open  woodland.  Here, 
however,  the  Indians,  foreseeing  that  there  would 
be  more  scope  for  the  horses  to  come  into  action, 
had  taken  precautions  accordingly. 

It  was  in  a  part  of  this  very  rnorass,  though  not 
in  this  immediate  neighbourhood,  that  Pamphilo  de 
Narvaez  had  been  .defeated  about  ten  or  eleven 
years  before  ;  and  the  Indians,  profiting  by  the  ex 
perience  then  gained,  and  encouraged  by  the  recol 
lection  of  that  triumph,  trusted  that  they  would 
have  like  success  in  the  present  instance. 

To  render  the  much  dreaded  horses  ineffec 
tive,  they  had  blocked  up  and  traversed  the  open 
places  of  the  forest  with  great  logs,  and  branches 
tied  from  tree  to  tree  ;  and  in  the  close  and  matted 
parts  of  the  forest,  had  made  narrow  passages  by 
which  they  might  dart  forth,  make  an  assault,  and 
vanish  again  in  an  instant. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  157 

As  soon,  therefore,  as  the  Spaniards  entered  this 
more  open  woodland,  they  found  themselves  assail 
ed  by  showers  of  arrows  from  every  side.  The  In 
dians  were  scattered  about  among  the  thickets,  they 
sallied  forth,  rushed  among  the  troops,  plied  their 
bows  with  intense  rapidity,  and  plunged  again  into 
the  forest.  The  horses  were  of  no  avail ;  the  arque- 
busiers  and  archers  seemed  no  longer  a  terror ;  for 
in  the  time  a  Spaniard  could  make  one  discharge 
and  reload  his  musket,  or  place  another  bolt  in  his 
cross-bow,  an  Indian  would  launch  six  or  seven  ar 
rows  ;  scarce  had  one  arrow  taken  flight  before 
another  was  in  the  bow. 

In  their  hampered  situation,  the  Spaniards  found 
it  impossible  to  assault  the  enemy  ;  their  only  alter 
native  was  to  defend  themselves  and  press  forward. 
All  the  while,  too,  that  they  were  exposed  to  this 
galling  fire,  they  were  insulted  by  the  taunts  and 
threats  of  the  enemy,  who  reminded  them  of  their 
victory  over  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  and  menaced 
them  with  a  like  defeat. 

For  two  long  leagues  did  the  Spaniards  toil  and 
fight  their  way  forward  through  this  forest ;  irritated 
and  mortified  by  these  galling  attacks,  vexatious 
taunts,  and  by  the  impossibility  of  retaliating;  at 
length  they  emerged  into  an  open  and  level  country. 
Here,  overjoyed  at  being  freed  from  this  forest  pri- 
14 


158  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

son,  they  gave  reins  to  their  horses  and  free  vent  to 
their  smothered  rage,  and  scoured  the  plain,  lancing 
and  cutting  down  every  Indian  they  encountered, 
out  of  revenge  of  their  own  annoyances,  and  of  the 
past  defeat  of  Narvaez.  But  few  of  the  enemy 
were  taken  prisoners ;  many  were  put  to  the  sword ; 
and  thus  did  they  suffer  severely  for  the  presump- 
tious  confidence  inspired  by  their  former  triumph 
over  Spaniards.* 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega.  P.  2.  L.  2.  c.  2. 
Herrera.  Hist.  Ind.  Decad.  vi.  L.  7.  c.  12. 


159 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  Indians  make  a  desperate  stand  at  a  deep  stream. 
The  Spaniards  gain  the  pass  andarrweat  the  Indian 
milage  of  Anhayea,  in  the  province  of  Apalachee. 

1539.  THE  Spaniards  had  now  arrived  at  the 
commencement  of  a  fertile  region  covered  with 
those  villages  and  fields  of  grain  for  which  the  pro 
vince  of  Apalachee  was  famous  throughout  the 
country.  Wearied  with  their  toilsome  march  and 
incessant  fighting,  they  encamped  for  the  night  in 
the  open  plain,  near  a  small  village.  Still,  with  all 
their  weariness,  they  were  deprived  the  repose  so 
necessary  to  them.  All  night  long  they  were  dis 
turbed  by  the  yells  and  howlings  of  the  Indians,  by 
their  repeated  assaults,  and  the  flights  of  arrows 
that  were  discharged  into  the  camp. 

At  daybreak  the  Spaniards  resumed  their  march 
through  extensive  fields  of  maize,  beans,  pompions, 
and  other  vegetables,  extending  on  each  side  of  the 
road  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  interspersed 
with  small  cabins,  showing  a  numerous,  but  scattered 
population. 


160  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

The  inhabitants  justified  their  ferocious  and  war 
like  reputation,  for  they  kept  up  incessant  attacks, 
sallying  forth  from  their  dwellings,  or  starting  up 
from  their  corn  fields  where  they  had  lain  in  am 
bush  ;  and  though  the  Spaniards  wreaked  upon 
them  a  bloody  revenge,  slaughtering  them  without 
mercy,  yet  nothing  could  check  the  fury  of  the  sur- 
vjvers. 

After  contending  for  two  leagues  through  the 
fields  of  corn,  the  Spaniards  came  to  a  deep  stream 
bordered  by  deep  forests  ;*  where  the  Indians  had 
erected  palisades  and  barriers,  to  impede  the  pass 
ing  of  the  horse,  as  well  as  to  protect  themselves. 
As  this  was  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  import 
ant  passes,  and  in  a  manner  their  last  hope,  they 
had  prepared  themselves  to  defend  it  vigorously. 

Having  reconnoitered  the  pass,  the  Spaniards 
made  arrangements  accordingly.  The  best  armed 
horsemen  alighted,  and  buckling  on  their  shields, 
advanced  with  swords  and  hatchets  in  hand,  gained 
the  pass,  and  broke  down  the  palisades  and  barriers. 
The  Indians  fought  desperately  to  defend  them  ;  se 
veral  Spaniards  were  killed  and  many  wounded, 
but  they  succeeded  in  forcing  their  way  with  less 
difficulty  than  they  had  apprehended. 

*  Mr.  McCulloch  supposes  this  to  be  the  river  Ucho. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  161 

The  stream  forded,  they  marched  two  more 
leagues  without  opposition,  through  the  same  kind  of 
fertile  and  cultivated  country ;  then  choosing  a  place 
clear  from  forests,  encamped  for  the  night.  After  four 
days  and  three  nights  of  watching,  toiling,  and  fight 
ing,  they  needed  repose,  and  had  hoped,  in  this  open 
place,  where  the  horses  had  free  career,  that  they 
should  be  able  to  enjoy  it  without  molestation.  The 
darkness  of  the  night,  however,  encouraged  the  as 
saults  of  their  restless  and  daring  foes,  and  obliged 
them  to  keep  up  a  constant  vigil  with  their  weapons 
in  their  hands. 

Even  the  Indians  who  were  captured  evinced  the 
implacable  and  unconquerable  spirit  for  which  the 
Apalachian  tribe  was  famous.  Though  in  the  power 
of  their  enemies,  they  continued  to  carry  an  air  of 
haughtiness  and  defiance ;  boasting  of  their  origin, 
vaunting  the  valour  of  their  nation,  and  telling  the 
Spaniards  that  they  would  soon  arrive  at  the  village 
of  their  Cacique,  where  he  and  a  host  of  warriors 
were  waiting  to  destroy  them.  The  name  of  this 
Cacique  was  Capafi  ;  the  first  they  had  heard  of, 
whose  name  differed  from  that  of  his  village.  Learn 
ing  that  this  formidable  village  was  actually  but 
about  two  leagues  distant,  Hernando  de  Soto,  on 
the  following  morning,  which  was  the  fifth  since 
crossing  the  morass,  put  himself  in  the  advance, 
14* 


162  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

with  two  hundred  horse  and  a  hundred  foot.  On 
their  way  they  put  all  the  Indians  they  met  with  to 
the  sword. 

On  reaching  the  village  they  found  it  recently  de 
serted  by  the  Cacique  and  his  men.  They  pursued 
them  for  some  distance,  killed  some  of  the  Indians, 
captured  others,  but  the  Cacique  made  his  escape. 
They  then  took  up  their  quarters  in  the  village, 
which  was  named  Anhayea,*  and  contained  two 
hundred  and  fifty  large  and  commodious  houses: 
the  Adelantado  took  possession  of  the  dwelling  of 
the  Cacique,  which  stood  at  one  end  of  the  village, 
and  was  superior  to  the  rest. 

In  addition  to  this  principal  village,  they  under 
stood  that  there  were  many  others  in  the  province, 
containing  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  houses  more  or 
less,  besides  a  multitude  of  dwellings  scattered  about 
the  country.  The  province  throughout  was  reputed 
to  be  pleasant,  the  soil  fertile,  producing  maize,  cu 
cumbers,  beans,  and  wild  plums ;  the  rivers  abound 
ing  in  fish,  which  the  natives  caught  in  vast  quanti 
ties  throughout  the  year,  and  dried  for  use.f 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  12. 

t  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega.  P.  2.  L.  2.  c.  4.  Portuguese  Narra 
tive  c.  12. 


163 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Juan  de  Anasco  sets  out  in  search  of  the  Ocean — 
the  adventures  he  met  with  by  the  way. 

1539.  THE  army  remained  quiet  in  the  village  of 
Anhayea  for  several  days,  recruiting  from  its  past 
toils,  although  the  enemy  did  not  fail  to  continue 
their  attacks  by  night  and  day.  The  Governor  now 
sent  out  bands  of  horse  and  foot  to  explore  the  sur 
rounding  country  for  fifteen  or  twenty  leagues. 
Two  captains,  the  one  named  Arias  Tinoco,  the 
other,  Andreas  de  Vasconcelos,  were  sent  in  differ 
ent  directions  to  the  northward.  They  returned, 
the  one  in  eight,  and  the  other  in  nine  days,  having 
met  with  no  adventures  worthy  of  relation.  Both 
reported  that  they  had  found  many  populous  vil 
lages,  and  that  the  country  was  fertile  and  free  from 
morasses  or  extensive  forests.  A  third  captain  had 
been  sent  about  the  same  time  to  the  southward : 
this  was  Juan  de  Anasco,  the  Contador  of  the  army. 
He  was  one  whom  De  Soto  often  chose  for  un 
dertakings  that  required  a  stout  heart  and  active 
spirit,  though  he  was  sometimes  prone  to  be  a  little 


164  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

hasty  in  temper  and  positive  in  command.  He  had 
under  his  command  forty  horse  and  fifty  foot,  and 
was  accompanied  by  Gonzalo  Silvestre  and  Gomez 
Arias.  The  latter  was  a  relation  of  the  Governor's 
wife,  and  a  hardy  soldier,  seasoned  in  all  kinds  of 
perils  and  vicissitudes  by  land  and  water,  as  most 
Spanish  adventurers  were  in  those  days.  He  had 
seen  rough  times  in  Moorish  warfare ;  had  been  a 
slave  in  Barbary ;  and,  to  his  adventurous  valour, 
added  sage  experience  in  council. 

Thus  accompanied,  Juan  de  Afiasco  set  off  to 
wards  the  south  in  quest  of  the  ocean,  which  was 
said  to  be  less  than  thirty  leagues  distant  from  An- 
hayea.  He  was  guided  in  his  expedition  by  an  In 
dian  who  professed  great  fidelity  and  attachment  to 
the  Spaniards. 

For  two  days  they  travelled  over  an  excellent 
road,  wide  and  level,  passing  two  small  rivers  which 
were  easily  forded.  Here  they  came  to  the  village 
of  Aute,  which  was  abandoned  by  the  inhabitants, 
but  well  stocked  with  provisions.  Taking  with  them 
a  supply  for  four  days,  they  continued  on  by  the 
same  commodious  road.  At  length  the  Indian  di 
verged  from  it,  and  led  the  way  into  dense  and 
thorny  forests  without  any  path.  The  ground  was 
in  many  places  rough  and  broken,  and  covered  with 
fallen  trees.  In  other  places  were  deep  bogs  cover- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  165 

ed  with  grass,  that  presented  the  appearance  of 
firm  land,  but  into  which  horse  and  foot  sunk  and 
floundered  and  were  almost  smothered. 

In  this  wilderness  they  wandered  about  for  five 
days,  frequently  crossing  their  former  track,  until 
their  stock  of  provisions  was  nearly  exhausted. 
Three  times  they  came,  as  they  thought,  within 
sound  of  the  distant  surges  of  the  sea,  and  each  time 
the  Indian  struck  in  an  opposite  direction.  In  their 
vexation  and  perplexity  they  began  to  suspect  his 
fidelity,  and  that  he  had  a  design  to  make  them  perish 
with  hunger  in  this  inextricable  forest,  even  though 
he  should  share  the  same  fate.  These  suspicions, 
however,  they  kept  to  themselves,  for  they  had  no 
other  guide. 

They  now  determined  to  return  to  Aute,  get  a 
fresh  supply  of  provisions,  and  renew  their  search. 
Their  return  was  the  more  toilsome,  as  they  had  to 
retrace  their  footsteps  through  fear  of  losing  the 
road,  and  the  mire  of  the  bogs  was  so  much  tram 
pled  that  they  sunk  deeper  in  it  than  before.  Four 
days  did  they  keep  on  in  this  painful  way,  and  their 
absurd  suspicions  of  their  Indian  guide  revived. 
They  grewr  peevish  in  their  conduct  towards  him  ; 
quarrels  ensued  between  him  and  the  soldiers  ;  he 
was  beaten,  and  would  have  been  slain  on  the  spot, 
had  not  Anasco  interfered.  Exasperated  to  re- 


166  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

venge,  he  watched  an  opportunity  at  night  while 
the  soldiers  slept,  and  snatching  a  brand  from  the 
fire,  struck  those  who  had  maltreated  him.  This 
only  brought  on  him  severer  punishment.  A  chain 
was  then  put  round  his  neck  and  the  other  end  given 
to  a  soldier,  to  keep  close  watch  over  him. 

The  next  morning,  in  the  course  of  their  rugged 
march,  the  guide,  as  he  followed  the  soldier  who  had 
him  in  charge,  sprang  suddenly  upon  him,  threw 
him  to  the  ground,  and  began  to  trample  upon  him. 

Upon  this  the  Spaniards  fell  upon  the  Indian  with 
sword  and  pike :  even  Juan  de  Anasco,  losing  all 
temper,  raised  himself  in  his  stirrups,  and  with  both 
hands,  dealt  him  a  terrible  thrust  with  his  lance  ; 
after  which,  as  he  lay  for  dead,  a  hound  was  turned 
loose  to  tear  him  to  pieces. 

The  guide  being  slain,  and  their  anger  being  thus 
cruelly  appeased,  they  began  to  think  which  way 
they  should  direct  their  steps.  In  this  dilemma  they 
turned  to  an  Indian  whom  they  had  captured  on 
their  return  to  Aute.  From  him  they  gathered  by 
signs,  and  a  few  words  which  they  understood,  that 
it  would  be  impossible  to  get  to  the  sea  by  their  pre 
sent  route,  on  account  of  the  swamps  and  forests  ; 
but  that  if  they  would  return  to  Aute  he  would  take 
them  by  a  direct  road  to  the  coast,  and  to  the  very 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  167 

place  where  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  had  built  his  ves 
sels  and  embarked. 

They  had  no  alternative  but  to  trust  to  this  new 
guide,  hoping  that  the  fate  of  his  predecessor  would 
have  a  salutary  effect  on  him.  They  returned, 
therefore,  to  the  village  of  Aute,  after  fifteen  days 
of  toilsome  and  fruitless  wandering. 

As  Gomez  Arias  and  Gonzalo  Silvestre  were 
riding  in  the  advance,  they  took  two  Indian  prison 
ers,  near  to  the  village.  On  questioning  them  about 
the  sea  coast,  and  the  proper  route  to  find  it,  they 
confirmed  all  that  had  been  said  by  the  present 
guide.  The  Spaniards  comforted  themselves  with 
the  hope,  therefore,  that  they  would  now  be  able  to 
accomplish  the  object  of  their  journey ;  and  with 
this  persuasion,  slept  soundly  and  contentedly  that 
night,  after  all  their  toils. 


168 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Juan  de  Ailasco  arrives  at  the  bay,  where  he  finds 
traces  of  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez. 

1539.  ON  the  following  day  Juan  de  Anasco  and 
his  followers  set  out  once  more  from  the  village  of 
Aute,  under  the  guidance  of  the  three  Indians,  by 
the  new  route  they  pointed  out.  The  road  was 
wide  and  open,  free  from  any  bad  passages,  except 
ing  one  narrow  marsh,  in  which  the  horses  did  not 
sink  over  their  fetlocks.  They  had  not  journeyed 
more  than  two  leagues  when  they  arrived  at  a  spa 
cious  bay,*  and,  proceeding  along  its  shores,  came 
at  last,  to  their  great  joy,  to  the  very  place  where 
the  unfortunate  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  and  his  peo 
ple  had  sojourned.  Here  were  the  remains  of  a  rude 
forge,  where  the  iron  work  for  the  vessels  had  been 
wrought ;  and  around  it  lay  scattered  charcoal  and 
cinders.  There  were  large  trunks  of  trees,  also, 
hollowed  out  into  troughs,  in  which  the  horses  had 

*  Evidently  the  Bay  of  St.  Marks,  or  Apalachee.  See  Char, 
levoix  Journal  Historique,  Let.  34. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  169 

been  fed ;  and  not  far  off  lay  the  bones  of  the  horses 
that  had  been  killed. 

The  Spaniards  gazed  with  melancholy  interest 
upon  these  relics  of  a  disastrous  expedition,  and 
eagerly  sought  to  glean  from  their  savage  guides 
further  particulars  respecting  Narvaez  and  his  men. 
The  Indians  had  picked  up  some  Spanish  phrases 
during  the  time  that  Narvaez  sojourned  here  ;  with 
these,  aided  by  signs,  and  by  words  of  their  own 
language  partly  understood  by  their  hearers,  they 
contrived  to  give  some  account  of  the  transactions 
at  the  bay.  They  led  the  Spaniards,  step  by  step, 
over  the  scenes  visited  by  Narvaez  ;  showed  the 
place  where  ten  of  his  men  had  been  surprised  and 
slain;  and  pointed  out  every  spot  where  things  of 
note  had  happened  to  that  ill-starred  commander. 

Anasco  and  his  companions  searched  in  every  di 
rection  to  find  if  any  letter  had  been  Isft  in  the  hol 
low  of  a  tree,  or  any  inscription  on  the  bark  ;  as 
\vas  the  common  practice  with  discoverers  ;  but 
they  could  find  nothing  of  the  kind.  They  then 
ranged  along  the  shores  of  the  bay  to  the  sea, 
which  was  three  leagues  distant.  Here,  finding 
some  old  canoes  cast  upon  the  beach,  ten  or  twelve 
expert  swimmers  embarked  in  them  and  sounded 
the  bay,  in  the  mid  channel  of  which  they  found 
sufficient  depth  for  large  ships. 
15 


170  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

After  this,  they  placed  signals  in  the  highest  trees, 
so  as  to  be  apparent  to  any  one  sailing  along  the 
coast ;  and  took  down,  in  writing,  a  minute  account  of 
the  place  and  its  bearings,  for  the  certain  information 
of  any  one  who  might  henceforth  seek  it.  Having 
taken  these  precautions,  they  made  the  best  of  their 
way  back  to  the  army.  De  Soto  was  rejoiced  to 
see  them,  for  their  long  absence  had  caused  him 
great  uneasiness.  He  was  highly  satisfied,  also,  to 
learn  that  they  had  discovered  so  excellent  a  har 
bour,  and  the  very  one  from  which  Pamphilo  de 
Narvaez  had  set  sail  with  his  ill-fated  barques. 


171 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

The  expedition  of  Juan  de  Anasco  and  his  band  of 
thirty  troopers. 

1539.  As  the  season  was  far  advanced,  De  Soto 
resolved  to  proceed  no  farther  for  the  present,  but 
to  winter  in  this  abundant  province  of  Apalachee. 
He  caused  the  village  of  Anhayea,  therefore,  to  be 
strongly  fortified,  additional  buildings  to  be  erected 
for  barracks,  and  the  surrounding  country  to  be  for 
aged  for  a  stock  of  provisions.  In  the  mean  time, 
friendly  messages  and  presents  were  repeatedly 
sent  to  the  Cacique  Capafi.  He,  however,  rejected 
all  overtures,  and  buried  himself  in  a  dense  forest, 
surrounded  by  morasses  and  perilous  defiles. 

As  De  Soto  saw  no  use  in  keeping  up  a  garrison 
at  Hirrihigua,  in  the  bay  of  Espiritu  Santo,  he  de 
termined  to  send  orders  to  Pedro  Calderon  to  break 
up  his  encampment  there,  despatch  the  vessels  that 
lay  in  the  harbour,  and  march  with  the  forces  under 
his  command  to  rejoin  the  army  in  their  winter 
quarters.  How  to  get  these  orders  to  Pedro  Calde 
ron  was  now  the  question  ;  for  whoever  bore  the 


172  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

message  would  have  to  retrace  the  wilderness 
through  which  the  army  had  marched,  to  re-cross 
the  deep  and  rapid  rivers,  thread  the  gloomy  forests 
and  miry  swamps,  and,  as  it  were,  to  run  the  gauntlet 
through  tribes  of  warlike  and  cruel  savages,  smarting 
from  their  late  conflicts,  and  thirsting  for  revenge. 

After  mature  consideration,  he  resolved  to  intrust 
the  perilous  enterprise  to  a  band  of  troopers,  suffi 
cient  in  number  to  make  head  against  a  considerable 
force  of  savages, -yet  not  too  numerous  to  move  with 
secrecy  and  expedition. 

No  sooner  had  he  proposed  the  daring  errand 
than  there  was  a  competition  among  the  hardy  young 
cavaliers  of  the  army  to  be  sent  upon  it ;  for  the 
very  danger  of  the  service  excited  their  ardour.  De 
Soto  chose  from  among  them  thirty  prime  lances, 
and  appointed  as  their  leader,  the  stout  hearted  and 
well  tried  Juan  De  Anasco.  Along  with  him  went 
the  shrewd  and  hardy  Gomez  Arias,  who  had  been 
his  comrade  in  his  late  expedition  to  the  bay  of  Aute. 

Among  the  lances  was  one  Pedro  Moron,  a  mes 
tizo,  or  half-blood,  between  Spaniard  and  mulatto, 
native  of  the  Island  of  Cuba.  This  soldier,  beside 
being  an  admirable  swimmer,  was  gifted  with  a 
scent  almost  equal  to  that  of  a  dog  ;  so  that  he  had 
often,  in  the  Island  of  Cuba,  winded  and  traced  a 
fugitive  Indian  into  the  thickets  and  caves  in  which 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  173 

he  had  hid  himself.  He  also  could  scent  tire  at  the 
distance  of  a  league,  though  no  light  or  smoke  was 
to  be  perceived.*  In  company  with  him  went  an 
other  mestizo,  his  friend  and  countryman,  likewise 
a  native  of  Cuba. 

It  was  on  the  20th  of  November,!  (1539,)  that 
this  small  and  intrepid  band  set  out  on  their  hazard 
ous  errand.  As  celerity  of  movement  was  all  im 
portant,  each  horseman  was  lightly  equipped,  with 
a  casque,  a  coat  of  mail  under  his  doublet,  and  a 
lance  ;  a  pair  of  alforjas  or  \vallets  were  slung 
across  the  saddle  bow,  in  which,  beside  a  small  sup 
ply  of  food  for  himself,  and  corn  for  his  steed,  he 
had  two  or  three  spare  horse  shoes,  and  a  few  nails. 

Long  before  the  day  dawned  the  gallant  troopers 
were  on  the  road.J  Pressing  forward,  they  scoured 
along  at  full  speed,  when  practicable,  fearing  lest  the 
rumour  of  their  coming  might  precede  them,  and 
give  the  Indians  time  to  assemble  and  dispute  the 
passes.  Overtaking  two  of  the  natives,  they  put 
them  to  death,  to  prevent  their  giving  the  alarm  to 
their  comrades  who  were  scattered  about  the  fields. 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  P.  2,  L.  2,  c.  7. 

t  Portuguese  Relation. 

t  The  account  of  this  romantic  and  perilous  expedition  of  the 
thirty  troopers,  is  entirely  from  the  Inca  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega. 
The  Portuguese  Narrative  makes  very  brief  mention  of  it. 
15* 


174  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

They  rapidly  traversed  the  extensive  morass  and 
vast  forests  of  Apalachee,  without  opposition,  and 
halted  in  an  open  plain  on  its  skirts  ;  ten  of  their 
number  keeping  watch  while  the  remainder  slept. 

Ere  it  was  light  they  were  again  in  their  saddles, 
and  pressing  their  horses,  made  the  best  of  their 
way  over  that  desert  tract  of  country  lying  between 
the  morass  of  Apalachee  and  the  village  of  Osachile. 
Apprehensive  that  the  Indians  might  have  heard  of 
their  approach,  and  would  make  stout  resistance  in 
the  village,  Anasco  ordered  a  halt.  As  night  closed 
in,  they  pushed  onward  with  great  caution,  and  came 
in  sight  of  the  village  about  midnight.  Not  stopping 
to  reconnoitre,  they  loosened  their  reins,  clapped 
spurs  to  their  horses,  and  dashed  through  the  village 
full  speed.  They  galloped  on  about  a  league  fur 
ther,  when  they  struck  off  their  course  for  a  short 
distance,  and  halted  for  the  remainder  of  the  night ; 
having  travelled  this  day  more  than  thirteen  leagues. 

At  daybreak  they  resumed  their  journey,  putting 
their  horses  to  their  speed,  as  numbers  of  the  na 
tives  were  scattered  about  the  fields,  and  might  give 
the  alarm.  Thus,  they  went  five  leagues  on  a  scam 
per  to  the  river  Osachile,  at  the  risk  of  their  horses  ; 
but  these  were,  luckily,  so  high  mettled  that  they 
suffered  but  little. 

On  approaching  the  river,  Gonzalo  Silvestre,  who 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  175 

had  pushed  his  horse  more  than  his  companions,  was 
in  advance.  He  was  fearful  lest  the  river  should 
have  swollen  since  the  army  crossed  it.  Fortu 
nately,  however,  the  water  had  fallen.  He  was  so 
overjoyed  that  he  plunged  in  with  his  horse,  swam 
the  stream,  and  mounted  the  bank  on  the  opposite 
side.  When  his  companions  came  up  they  were  re 
joiced  to  see  him  on  the  opposite  bank,  for  they  had 
entertained  the'  same  fear,  that  the  river  might  have 
increased  :  they  all  dashed  in,  gained  the  other  side 
without  accident,  and,  with  light  hearts,  dismounted 
and  made  their  breakfasts  on  the  green  sward. 

They  were  soon  again  on  horse,  and  at  a  mode 
rate  pace,  approached  the  village  of  Vitachuco. 
Thinking  to  have  found  the  place  as  they  had  left  it, 
they  looked  forward  to  some  severe  fighting  with 
the  inhabitants,  and  expected  to  pass  through  it  at 
the  point  of  the  sword.  A  consultation  was  held, 
and  it  was  resolved,  that  none  should  stop  to  fight, 
but  at  full  gallop  cut  their  way  through  the  enemy ; 
for  the  death  of  one  of  their  number,  or  of  a  horse, 
would  be  a  serious  loss,  and  increase  the  perils  of 
the  expedition.  Thus  determined,  they  spurred 
on,  and  were  soon  relieved  from  their  apprehen 
sions.  '  They  found  the  village  a  scene  of  utter  de 
solation  ;  the  houses  burnt,  the  watts  thrown  to  the 
ground,  and  the  bodies  of  the  Indians  who  had  fal- 


176  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

len  on  the  day  of  battle,  heaped  up  into  a  mound, 
and  left  unsepulchred.  The  Spaniards  afterwards 
learnt,  that  the  natives  had  destroyed  and  deserted 
this  village,  from  an  idea  that  it  had  been  built  on 
an  evil  and  ill-fated  site  ;  and  they  had  left  the 
corses  of  their  people  unburied,  food  for  carrion 
birds  and  wild  beasts,  because,  according  to  their 
superstitious  belief,  the  unfortunate,  and  defeated  in 
battle,  were  infamous  and  accursed. 


177 


CHAPTER  XXV III. 

Continuation  of  the  bold  and  perilous  expedition  of 
Juan  de  Anasco,  and  his  thirty  lances. 

1539.  THE  Spaniards  checked  their  steeds,  and 
wound  slowly  through  the  ruins  of  the  village,  won 
dering  at  the  desolation  around  them.  They 
had  left  it  but  a  short  distance  behind  them, 
when  they  encountered  two  Indian  warriors,  who 
were  out  on  a  hunting  expedition.  The  moment 
the  Indians  perceived  the  horse  advancing,  they 
took  refuge  under  a  large  walnut  tree  which  was  at 
hand.  One  of  them,  however,  doubting  the  shelter 
the  tree  could  afford,  fled,  and  made  an  attempt  to 
reach  the  woods  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road, 
but  two  horsemen  dashed  after  him,  and  before  he 
attained  this  asylum,  they  transfixed  him  with  their 
lances. 

The  other  Indian  was  a  more  courageous  spirit, 
and,  with  undaunted  front,  kept  his  station  under 
the  tree ;  and,  as  fortune  usually  favours  the  daring, 
he  met  with  a  better  fate.  Fixing  an  arrow  in  his 
bow,  he  fearlessly  faced  the  Spaniards,  who  came 


178  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

galloping  one  behind  the  other,  and  threatened  to 
shoot,  should  they  approach  him.  Some  of  the  ca 
valiers,  irritated  at  his  daring  insolence,  or  moved 
by  jealousy  of  his  undaunted  courage,  would  fain 
have  dismounted  and  attacked  him  lance  in  hand. 
Anasco,  however,  interfered,  representing  to  them 
that  there  was  neither  valour  nor  prudence  in  at 
tacking  a  desperate  man,  especially  at  a  time  when 
the  death,  even  of  a  horse,  would  be  deeply  felt,  and 
when  they  were  so  badly  provided  with  medicines 
for  the  healing  of  the  wounded.  He  then  wheeled 
his  horse  and  they  made  a  large  circuit  from  the 
road,  lest  the  Indian  should  shoot  any  of  the  horses 
as  they  passed  :  for  this  they  dreaded  most.  He  al 
lowed  them  all  to  pass,, and  finding  that,  instead  of 
attacking  him,  they  had  turned  on  one  side,  he  start 
ed  after  them,  calling  them  mean  spirited  cowards, 
and  taunting  them  for  flying  from  a  single  foe.  At 
this  moment  there  arose  a  shrill  and  wild  outcry 
from  every  part  of  the  surrounding  fields  and  forests. 
The  savages  started  up  on  all  sides,  and  called  upon 
each  other  to  barricade  the  road.  But  the  Span 
iards  gave  their  horses  the  reins  and  spur,  and  soon 
left  the  enemy  behind  them.  This  night,  the  third  of 
their  wayfaring,  they  halted  in  a  level  and  beautiful 
plain,  having  travelled  seventeen  leagues  since  mor 
ning,  the  last  eight  through  the  province  of  Vitachuco. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  179 

On  the  fourth  day  they  journeyed  other  seven 
teen  leagues  through  the  same  province  The 
natives,  thirsting  for  revenge,  on  account  of  their 
late  defeat,  were  on  the  alert;  and  seeing  the  Span 
iards  passing  through  their  country  with  so  small  a 
force,  determined  to  massacre  them.  They  sent  se 
ven  Indian  runners  ahead  to  spread  the  alarm  of  the 
coming  of  the  white  men,  that  their  warriors  might 
assemble  at  some  narrow  pass  and  dispute  the  way. 
The  Christians,  however,  suspecting  their  designs, 
pushed  on  so  close  upon  the  runners,  that  they  took 
them  all  prisoners.  At  nightfall  they  encamped  as 
usual  in  an  open  plain. 

A  little  past  midnight  they  roused  themselves 
from  their  slumbers,  and  when  the  sun  rose,  they 
had  already  travelled  five  leagues,  and  arrived  at 
the  river  Ochali,  where,  on  a  former  occasion,  the 
Indians  had  killed  the  greyhound  with  their  arrows. 
They  had  hoped  to  find  the  river  with  less  water 
than  when  they  had  crossed  it,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
it  had  overflowed  its  banks,  and  was  now  a  deep, 
turbid,  furious  stream,  boiling  and  foaming  with 
whirlpools,  fearful  even  to  look  upon,  and  dangerous 
to  traverse. 

The  Spaniards  held  an  earnest  consultation  for  a 
few  moments  :  the  first  object  was  to  secure  the 
opposite  bank  before  the  Indians  should  arrive 


180  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

there.  It  was  determined,  therefore,  that  twelve 
of  the  best  swimmers,  stripping  themselves  of  every 
thing  except  their  casques  and  coats  of  mail,  and 
disencumbering  their  horses  of  saddles  and  saddle 
bags,  and  taking  only  their  lances  in  their  hands, 
should  swim  their  steeds  to  the  opposite  bank,  and 
take  post  there,  to  protect  the  crossing  of  their 
companions  with  the  baggage.  At  the  same  time, 
fourteen  were,  with  all  speed,  to  construct  a  raft  of 
drift  wood,  to  transport  the  baggage,  and  such  of 
the  party  as  could  not  swim  ;  while  four  were  to 
mount  guard  at  their  present  post,  until  all  should 
be  effected. 

All  this  was  no  sooner  agreed  upon  than  it  was 
put  into  execution.  The  twelve  swimmers  threw 
off  all  superfluous  clothes,  and  taking  lance  in  hand, 
urged  their  horses  into  the  raging  stream.  Eleven 
of  them  landed  in  safety  at  a  large  opening  on  the 
opposite  bank  :  the  twelfth  swimmer  wras  Juan  Lo 
pez  Cacho,  page  to  the  Governor,  and  the  same 
youth  who  once  accompanied  Gonzalo  Silvestre  on 
his  perilous  errand  to  the  camp.  In  attempting  to 
cross,  he  drifted  with  his  horse  somewhat  below  the 
opening.  Finding  he  could  not  stem  the  current 
up  to  the  place  where  his  companions  landed,  he' 
let  his  horse  swim  lower  down  the  river  and  sought 
some  other  landing  place.  He  attempted  several 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  181 

times  to  scramble  up  the  bank,  but  it  was  like  a 
wall,  and  there  was  no  foothold  for  the  horse.  He 
was  compelled,  therefore,  to  return  to  the  opposite 
shore,  but  before  he  reached  it  his  horse  began  to 
falter  through  fatigue.  He  called  out  for  succour 
to  his  companions  who  were  felling  the  wood  for 
the  raft.  Four  of  them  threw  themselves  into  the 
water  and  dragged  him  and  his  horse  to  shore.  By 
the  time  they  reached  it,  the  poor  youth  was  so 
thoroughly  chilled,  and  exhausted  by  struggling  so 
long  in  the  cold  water,  that  he  was  more  like  a 
corpse  than  a  living  being. 

Leaving  the   cavaliers  to  complete  the  crossing 
of  the  river,  we  will  cast  a  look  back  to  the  camp, 
to  notice  the  proceedings  of  its  careful  commander. 
16 


182 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

De  Soto's  enterprise  against  the  Cacique  of  Capafi. 

1539.  HAVING  despatched  Juan  de  Anasco  and 
his  thirty  lances  on  their  expedition,  the  next 
thought  of  De  Soto  was  for  the  security  and  com 
fort  of  his  army.  Ever  since  he  had  been  quartered 
in  the  village  of  Anhayea,  the  Indians  had  not  ceas 
ed  to  keep  up  a  series  of  galling  and  harassing  at 
tacks  and  alarms,  by  day  and  night.  The  whole 
neighbourhood,  also;  was  beset  by  them,  lurking 
about  in  ambush,  and  watching  every  movement  of 
the  Spaniards,  so  that  a  soldier  could  not  stray  a 
bow-shot  from  the  camp  without  being  waylaid  and 
assaulted. 

Knowing  the  devotion  of  the  Indians  to  their 
chieftains,  it  occurred  to  De  Soto,  that  if  he  could 
once  get  Capafi,  the  Cacique  of  Apalachee,  in  his 
power,  his  subjects  would  cease  from  their  harass 
ing  stratagems  and  attacks.  It  was  a  long  time, 
however,  before  he  could  get  upon  the  traces  of  the 
Cacique,  or  discover  where  he  had  concealed  him 
self,  for  he  did  not  take  the  field  with  his  warriors 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  183 

like  the  other  chieftains.  In  fact,  the  Cacique, 
though  redoubtable  from  his  sovereign  power,  was 
so  enormously  fat  and  unwieldy,  that  he  could  not 
walk,  nor  even  stand.  When  he  went  about  in  his 
dwelling,  he  had  to  do  so  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
and  when  he  moved  from  place  to  place,  he  was 
borne  in  a  litter  on  the  shoulders  of  his  subjects.  " 

At  length  De  Soto  received  intelligence  that  the 
Cacique,  being  too  fat  to  travel  far,  had  posted  him 
self  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  and  extensive  forest, 
about  eight  leagues  from  the  camp;  the  road  to 
which  lay  through  tangled  thickets,  and  treacherous 
morasses,  which  rendered  the  place  almost  inacces 
sible.  It  was,  moreover,  fortified  in  their  strongest 
manner,  and  garrisoned  by  a  band  of  the  choicest 
Apalachian  warriors,  so  as  to  be  deemed  by  them 
perfectly  impregnable. 

As  an  enterprise  against  this  stronghold  was  one 
of  peculiar  peril,  De  Soto,  with  hrs  accustomed  in 
trepidity,  took  it  upon  himself,  and,  putting  himself 
at  the  head  of  a  body  of  horse  and  foot,  made  his 
way  in  three  days,  with  great  difficulty,  to  the  Indian 
citadel,  the  construction  of  which  deserves  par 
ticular  mention. 

In  the  heart  of  this  close  and  impervious  forest, 
the  Indians  had  cleared  a  piece  of  ground,  and  for 
tified  it  strongly,  for  the  residence  of  the  Cacique 


184  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

and  his  warriors.  The  only  entrance  or  outlet  to  it 
was  by  a  narrow  path,  cut  through  the  forest.  At 
every  hundred ,  paces  this  path  was  barricaded  by 
palisades  and  trunks  of  trees,  at  each  of  which  was 
posted  a  guard  of  the  bravest  warriors.  Thus  the 
fat  Cacique  was  ensconsed  in  the  midst  of  the  forest, 
like  a  spider  in  the  midst  of  his  web,  and  his  devoted 
subjects  were  ready  to  defend  him  to  the  last  gasp. 

When  the  Governor  arrived  at  the  entrance  of 
the  perilous  defile,  he  found  the  enemy  well  prepar 
ed  for  its  defence.  The  Spaniards  pressed  forward, 
but  the  path  was  so  narrow,  that  the  two  foremost 
only  could  engage  in  the  combat.  They  gained 
the  first  and  second  palisade  at  the  point  of  the 
sword.  Here  it  was  necessary  to  cut  the  osiers 
and  other  bands  with  which  the  Indians  had  fasten 
ed  the  beams.  While  they  were  thus  occupied, 
they  were  exposed  to  a  galling  fire,  and  received 
many  wounds.  Notwithstanding  all  these  obstacles, 
they  gained  one  palisade  after  the  other,  until,  by 
hard  fighting,  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  refuge  of 
the  Cacique. 

Here  was  the  hottest  of  the  battle.  The  Indians, 
driven  to  desperation  by  the  imminent  peril  of  their 
Cacique,  threw  themselves  upon  the  swords  and 
spears  of  the  Spaniards.  The  latter  were  animated 
by  the  sight  of  their  wrished-for  prey,  and  excited  to 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  185 

furious  zeal  by  the  example  and  voice  of  De  Soto, 
\vho  not  only  fought  as  usual,  in  the  thickest  of  the 
affray,  but  called  on  his  men  by  name,  and  cheered 
them  on  to  action. 

This  obstinate  conflict  lasted  a  long  time,  with 
many  feats  of  prowess  on  both  sides.  The  Indians, 
however,  for  want  of  defensive  armour,  fought  on 
unequal  terms,  and  were  most  of  them  cut  down. 
The  Cacique  called  out  to  the  survivers  to  surren 
der.  The  latter,  having  done  all  that  good  soldiers 
could  do,  and  seeing  all  their  warlike  efforts  in  vain, 
threw  themselves  on  their  knees  before  the  Gover 
nor,  and  offered  up  their  own  lives,  but  entreated 
him  to  spare  the  life  of  their  Cacique. 

De  Soto  was  moved  by  their  valour  and  their  loy 
alty ;  receiving  them  with  kindness,  he  assured  them 
of  his  pardon  for  the  past,  and  that  thenceforth  he 
would  consider  them  as  friends.  Capafi,  not  being- 
able  to  walk,  was  borne  in  the  arms  of  his  attend 
ants  to  kiss  the  hands  of  the  Governor,  who.  well 
pleased  to  have  him  in  his  power,  treated  him  with 
the  utmost  urbanity  and  kindness.* 

*The  Inca.  P.  2,  L.  2,  c.  10. 
16* 


186 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Singular  escape  of  the  Cacique  Capafi. 

1539.  DE  SOTO  returned  well  pleased  to  the  vil 
lage  of  Anhayea,  flattering  himself  that  the  moles 
tation  from  the  savages  would  now  be  at  an  end, 
since  he  held  their  Cacique  a  captive.  His  hopes, 
however,  were  vain,  for  the  Indians,  freed  from  the 
charge  of  protecting  their  chieftain,  now  devoted 
themselves  to  molesting  the  Christians.  The  Gene 
ral  considered  this,  a  base  instance  of  ingratitude, 
seeing  that  he  had  refrained  from  ravaging  the 
country,  and  he  threatened  Capafi  to  commence  a 
war  of  extermination  against  his  people. 

The  Cacique  expressed  much  grief  at  their  con 
duct,  and  informed  De  Soto  that  the  most  eminent 
of  them  were  concealed  in  a  thick  forest,  five  or  six 
leagues  from  the  camp.  He  offered  to  go  there, 
guarded  by  a  body  of  Spaniards,  and  persuade  them 
to  submit,  adding,  that  no  messages  would  avail,  as 
they  would  not  be  convinced  that  he  was  not  a 
prisoner  in  irons,  and  badly  treated.  De  Soto,  ac 
cordingly,  ordered  a  company  of  horse  and  foot  to 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  187 

escort  him,  charging  them  to  watch  him  closely, 
and  not  allow  him  to  escape.  They  left  the  village 
before  morning,  and,  directing  their  inarch  in  a 
southerly  direction,  reached  the  forest  about  sunset. 

Here  the  Cacique  sent  some  Indians  of  his  train 
to  his  warriors,  who  were  concealed  in  the  forest, 
with  orders  for  them  to  assemble  before  him  on  the 
following  morning.  Trusting  that  the  order  of  Ca- 
pafi  would  be  punctually  obeyed,  the  Spaniards  be 
took  themselves  to  rest  for  the  night,  having  first 
placed  sentinels  at  the  out-posts,  and  a  strong  guard 
around  the  Cacique  ;  whose  unwieldy  bulk,  in  fact, 
seemed  a  sufficient  guarantee  for  his  safety.  Partly 
through  negligence,  however,  and  partly  through 
weariness  from  three  days'  journey,  sentinels  and 
all  fell  asleep.  Upon  this,  the  wily  Cacique,  watch 
ing  his  opportunity,  crawled  on  all  fours  through  the 
drowsy  camp,  and  soon  fell  in  with  a  prowling 
party  of  his  subjects,  who  raised  him  on  their  shoul 
ders,  and  bore  him  off  to  the  forest. 

When  morning  came,  and  the  Spaniards  awoke 
from  sleep,  the  Cacique  was  not  to  be  seen.  They 
beat  up  the  surrounding  forest,  but  without  success. 
Each  one  wondered,  and  questioned  the  other,  how 
so  unwieldy  a  man  had  escaped  without  being  seen 
or  heard.  The  sentinels  all  swore  that  they  had  been 
exceedingly  vigilant  on  their  parts ;  it  was  unani- 


188  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

mously  agreed,  therefore,  that  the  Indians  must 
have  conjured  up  some  demon  to  carry  him  off 
through  the  air.  They  set  off  on  their  return,  deep 
ly  mortified;  followed  by  the  Indians  at  a  distance, 
taunting  and  jeering  them,  but  offering  no  other  mo 
lestation.  They  arrived  in  the  camp  much  crest 
fallen,  and  invented  a  thousand  fables  to  account  to 
the  Governor  and  his  officors  for  the  escape  of  the 
prisoner.  They  all  certified  that  they  had  witness 
ed  strange  sights  that  night,  and  insisted  that  the 
Cacique  could  not  have  escaped  unless  he  had  been 
spirited  away  by  devils,  so  vigilant  had  been  their 
watchfulness. 

The  Governor,  though  aware  that  they  had  ne 
glected  their  duty,  knew  that  there  was  no  remedy, 
and,  not  to  displease  his  soldiers,  pretended  to  be 
convinced  of  the  truth  of  what  they  had  represent 
ed.  He  increased  their  satisfaction  by  saying  that 
the  Indians  were  such  notorious  necromancers  that 
they  might  have  performed  even  more  wonderful 
feats. 


189 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Continuation  of  the  expedition  of  Juan  de  Anasco 
and  his  thirty  lances,  and  what  further  befell  them. 

1539.  WE  must  now  return  to  the  thirty  cavaliers 
whom  we  left  preparing  to  cross  the  river  Ocali. 
Those  who  were  employed  in  felling  the  timber,  in 
a  short  time  had  finished  the  raft ;  for  they  were 
provided  for  such  emergencies  with  hatchets  and 
cords ;  they  fastened  two  large  ropes  to  it  under 
the  water,  by  which  it  was  to  be  drawn,  backwards 
and  forwards,  from  bank  to  bank. 

Two  good  swimmers  carried  one  of  the  ropes  to 
the  opposite  shore.  They  had  but  just  accomplish 
ed  this,  when  the  Indians  of  Ocali  rushed  down  to 
the  river  to  assail  them.  The  eleven  cavaliers  who 
had  crossed  to  the  opposite  bank,  closed  with  them, 
killed  some  and  put  the  rest  to  flight,  and  remained 
masters  of  the  field,  excepting  that  flights  of  arrows 
were  discharged  at  them  from  a  distance. 

The  combat  ceased,  they  called  out  lustily  for  their 
cloaks  to  be  sent  over  on  the  first  raft,  as  a  north 
wind  had  risen,  and  being  dripping  wet,  with  no 


190  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

other  covering  but  shirts  and   coats  of  mail,  they 
were  suffering  from  the  cold. 

The  rafts  made  several  voyages  to  and  fro,  before 
all  the  baggage,  and  such  of  the  Spaniards  as  could 
not  swim,  were  ferried  across.  As  fast  as  they 
landed  they  hastened  to  join  their  comrades,  who 
were  keeping  the  thickening  host  of  savages  at  bay : 
two  only  remained  to  unload  the  raft. 

The  four  horsemen  who  had  been  posted  as  a  rear 
guard,  to  protect  the  men  as  they  embarked,  had 
succeeded  in  covering  them  from  assault.  Two  of 
them,  Hernando  Athanasio  and  Gonzalo  Silvestre, 
remained  for  the  last  crossing  of  the  raft ;  which,  as 
there  would  be  no  one  left  behind  to  keep  back  the 
savages,  would  be  the  most  perilous.  When  the 
raft  was  laden  and  ready  for  the  traverse,  Athanasio 
sprang  upon  it,  leading  his  horse  into  the  water  to 
swim  along  side.  Silvestre  then  charged  upon  the 
savages,  drove  them  to  a  distance  from  the  shore, 
returned  at  full  speed,  leaped  from  his  horse,  urged 
him  into  the  water,  cast  loose  the  fastening  of  the 
raft,  and,  springing  upon  it,  gave  signal  for  it  to  be 
hauled  over  to  the  opposite  bank. 

All  this  was  accomplished  with  such  promptness 
and  activity,  that  they  were  already  half  way  across 
the  river,  and  out  of  danger,  before  the  Indians 
could  reach  the  shore. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  191 

In  all  this  crossing,  the  horses  performed  their 
part  to  admiration.  They  required  no  spur  nor 
scourge,  and  scarce  any  leading ;  they  never  flinch 
ed  nor  hesitated,  but  seemed  to  comprehend  their 
real  danger — that  an  enemy  was  hovering  near,  and 
that  their  safety  depended  upon  their  docility  and 
their  perfect  obedience  to  their  masters. 

It  was  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  they 
had  all  crossed  the  river,  neither  man  nor  horse 
having  received  a  wound.  They  made  for  the  vil 
lage,  where  they  purposed  resting,  as  Juan  Lopez 
Cacho  had  been  so  long  in  the  cold  water  that  he 
was  completely  chilled,  and  appeared  like  a  statue, 
without  the  power  of  moving  hand  or  foot. 

The  Indians  opposed  them  on  their  approach  to 
the  village,  until  their  wives  and  children  had  time 
to  fly  to  the  woods  ;  when  they  thought  them  in 
safety  they  abandoned  the  place.  The  Spaniards 
entered  and  halted  in  the  middle  of  the  public 
square,  fearing  to  quarter  in  the  dwellings,  lest,  be 
ing  separated,  the  Indians  might  surround  and  make 
them  prisoners. 

They  built  four  huge  fires  in  the  square,  near 
which  they  laid  poor  Juan  Lopez  and  covered  him 
with  the  cloaks  of  his  comrades.  One  of  his  friends 
gave  him  a  dry  shirt  which  he  chanced  to  have  with 
him,  at  this  time  a  most  acceptable  gift. 


192  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

They  remained  in  the  village  the  rest  of  the  day, 
in  a  state  of  anxiety.  The  situation  of  Juari  Lopez 
rendered*  it  impossible  for  him  to  travel  this  night, 
yet  they  feared  the  delay  might  give  the  natives 
time  to  spread  the  alarm,  and,  gathering  in  numbers, 
to  barricade  the  road.  They  generously  resolved, 
however,  that  come  what  might,  they  would  place 
the  health  of  their  companion  before  any  other  con 
sideration.  Accordingly,  they  tethered  one  half  the 
horses,  and  fed  them  with  maize,  while  the  remain 
der  walked  the  rounds.  Some  occupied  themselves 
in  drying  their  saddles  and  the  clothes  which  had 
been  soaked  in  the  water,  and  others  in  replenish 
ing  the  saddlebags  with  maize ;  for,  notwithstanding 
there  was  an  abundance  of  dried  grapes  and  plums, 
and  various  other  fruits,  they  took  nothing  but  In 
dian  corn,  which  answered  as  food  both  for  them 
selves  and  horses. 

As  night  closed  in,  mounted  sentinels  patrolled 
round  the  village  and  its  vicinity,  to  give  warning 
in  case  of  the  approach  of  an  enemy.  About  the 
mid  watch,  two  of  the  horsemen,  while  going  the 
rounds,  heard  a  low  murmuring  noise,  as  of  men  ap 
proaching.  One  started  off  to  put  his  comrades  on 
their  guard,  while  the  other  remained  to  reconnoitre 
and  ascertain  the  meaning  of  the  sound.  In  the 
brightness  of  the  starlight  he  descried  a  large 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  193 

and  obscure  cloud  of  savages  moving  towards  the 
village,  and  hastened  to  give  the  alarm.  The  Span 
iards,  finding  that  Juan  Lopez  was  somewhat  re 
covered,  threw  the  cloaks  cf  his  companions  over 
him,  and  seating  him  on  a  horse,  fastened  him  in 
the  saddle,  while  one  of  his  comrades  led  his  horse 
by  the  reins.  In  this  manner  they  left  the  village 
in  deep  silence,  before  the  enemy  arrived,  and  so 
expeditiously  did  they  travel,  that  at  daybreak  they 
were  six  leagues  from  Ocali. 

With  the  same  expedition  they  continued  their 
journey,  running  post  haste  through  the  populous 
country,  that  the  rumour  of  their  approach  might 
not  precede  them,  and  killing  all  the  Indians  they 
encountered  near  the  road,  lest  they  should  give  the 
alarm.  Through  the  uninhabited  tracts  they  slack 
ened  their  pace,  that  the  horses  might  rest  and 
breathe,  to  be  ready  to  run  when  it  should  be  ne 
cessary.  Thus  passed  this  day,  which  was  the  sixth 
of  their  wayfaring,  having  journeyed  almost  twenty 
leagues,  a  part  of  the  distance  through  the  province 
of  Acuera,  a  country  peopled  with  very  warlike 
savages. 

The  seventh  day  after  they  had  left  the  village , 

Pedro  de  Atienza  complained  of  being  suddenly  ill. 

They  made  light  of  his  complaint,  and,  not  to  lose 

time  on  the  road,  urged  him  forward.    He  continu- 

17 


194  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ed  from  time  to  time  to  complain,  but  without  being 
attended  to,  until  having  ridden  in  this  way  for  se 
veral  hours,  he  fell  dead  beside  his  horse.  His 
comrades  were  shocked  at  his  sudden  fate,  and  at 
their  own  want  of  sympathy  in  his  sufferings. 
There  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  however,  in  ceremoni 
als.  They  silently  dug  a  grave  on  the  spot  with 
their  hatchets,  buried  him  by  the  way  side,  and  then 
rode  on,  ruminating  on  the  loss  of  a  brave  soldier 
and  a  well  tried  comrade. 

That  night  they  encamped  on  the  border  of  the 
great  morass,  after  travelling  twenty  leagues.  It 
was  bitter  cold,  in  consequence  of  a  keen  north 
wind,  and  they  were  compelled  to  build  huge  fires 
at  the  risk  of  warning  the  Indians.  Twenty  of  these 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  dispute  this  pass,  and 
massacre  every  one  of  them,  as  they  would  possess 
a  great  advantage  in  their  canoes,  while  the  Span 
iards  could  not  avail  themselves  of  their  horses, 
neither  had  they  archers  nor  cross-bows  to  dislodge 
the  enemy.  Thus  troubled  and  anxious,  one  third 
of  their  number  kept  watch  at  a  time,  while  the 
others  slept,  to  gain  strength  for  the  fatigues  of  the 
coming  day. 


195 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Passage  of  t/ie  great  morass.     The  troopers  suffer 
from  extreme  cold.     The  vexation  of  Gomez  Arias. 

1539.  THE  Spaniards  had  slept  but  a  few  hours 
when  they  were  awakened  by  the  sufferings  of  Juan 
de  Soto,  who  had  been  companion  of  Pedro  Atien- 
za,  and  who  died  almost  as  suddenly  as  his  comrade, 
being  overcome  by  excessive  fatigue. 

Some  of  the  troop  fled  from  the  neighborhood  of 
the  corpse,  crying  that  the  plague  had  broken  out 
among  them  and  caused  these  sudden  deaths.  The 
old  soldier,  Gomez  Arias,  was  vexed  at  their  panic 
and  their  clamour.  "  Plague  enough  have  you," 
said  he,  "  in  your  journey,  from  which  you  cannot 
fly,  do  what  you  may.  If  you  fly  from  us,  whither 
will  you  go  ?  You  are  not  on  the  river  banks  of 
Seville,  nor  in  its  olive  groves."  Upon  this,  the  fu 
gitives  returned  and  joined  in  the  prayers  for  the 
dead,  but  would  not  aid  in  interring  the  body,  insist 
ing  that  he  had  died  of  the  dreaded  pestilence. 

When  the  day  dawned,  they  prepared  to  pass  the 
morass.  Eight  of  the  Spaniards,  who  could  not 


196  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

swim,  made  for  the  bridge  over  the  deepest  part  of 
the  morass,  and  having  replaced  its  railing,  they  car 
ried  over  the  saddles  of  the  horses  and  the  clothes 
of  their  companions.  The  remainder,  perfectly  na 
ked,  vaulted  upon  their  horses,  and  endeavoured  to 
force  them  into  the  water  ;  but  it  was  so  very  cold 
that  they  shrunk  back.  They  then  attached  ropes 
to  the  halters,  and  four  or  five  of  them  swam  to  the 
middle  of  the  current  to  drag  the  horses  after  them, 
while  others  struck  them  behind  with  long  poles. 
The  horses,  however,  planted  their  feet  firmly  in  the 
ground,  and  could  not  be  moved. 

Two  or  three  were  at  length  urged  into  the  stream 
a  short  distance,  but  when  they  came  to  the  deep 
water,  the  cold  was  so  great  that  they  turned  back, 
dragging  the  swimmers  after  them.  For  more  than 
three  hours  they  thus  laboured  in  vain.  At  length 
they  succeeded  in  forcing  two  horses  over,  one  of 
which  belonged  to  the  leader  Juan  de  Anasco,  the 
other  to  Gonzalo  de  Silvestre.  Both  of  these  cava 
liers,  being  of  the  number  of  those  who  could  not 
swim,  had  already  passed  by  the  bridge.  As  soon 
as  their  horses  were  brought  over,  they  saddled  and 
mounted  them,  to  be  ready  for  action  should  any 
enemy  approach. 

Notwithstanding  two  horses  had  thus  led  the  way, 
none  other  could  be  prevailed  upon,  either  by  coaxing 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  197 

or  cudgelling,  to  follow*  Gomez  Arias,  the  hardy  and 
weather  beaten  soldier,  was  chief  of  the  nineteen 
companions  who,  entirely  naked,  were  labouring  up 
to  their  waists  in  water,  to  compel  the  horses  to 
cross  ;  and  Arias  had  toiled  more  than  all  the  rest. 
They  had  now  been  in  the  water  for  more  than  four 
hours,  exposed  to  the  keen  north  wind,  and  so  tho 
roughly  chilled  that  their  naked  bodies  were  almost 
black.  They  were  wearied  in  flesh,  and  vexed  in 
spirit ;  and  seeing  all  their  exertions  useless,  were 
almost  driven  to  despair. 

At  this  juncture,  Juan  de  Afiasco,  having  saddled 
and  mounted  his  horse,  as  has  been  stated,  advanced, 
on  the  opposite  side,  as  far  as  he  could  ford,  until 
he  reached  the  edge  of  the  deep  channel.  He  was 
enraged  that  no  more  horses  had  been  made  to 
cross  over  ;  and,  without  inquiring  the  reason,  or 
regarding  the  comfortless  plight  cf  Gomez  Arias 
and  his  comrades,  attributed  it  to  a  want  of  respect 
and  obedience  to  him  as  leader.  In  great  dudgeon 
at  the  idea,  he  cried  out  in  a  loud  and  choleric  voice, 
"  Gomez  Arias,  bad  luck  to  you  !  why  do  you  not 
pass  those  horses  over  ?" 

The  spleen  of  honest  Gomez,  who  was  a  rough 

soldier,  was  already  sufficiently  roused  by  the  toils, 

and  sufferings,  and  vexations  he  had  endured,  and 

this  speech  of  his  commander  nettled  him  to  the 

17* 


198  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

quick.  Casting  a  grim  and  surly  glance  at  Anasco, 
"  Bad  luck  to  you?  cried  he,  "  and  to  the  drab  of  a 
cur  that  bore  you.  There  you  sit  on  your  horse, 
comfortably  clad  and  wrapped  up  in  your  cloak, 
and  never  think  that  we  have  been  here  for  more 
than  four  hours,  in  the  water,  half  frozen  with  cold, 
and  doing  all  in  our  power.  Dismount — with  a 
curse  to  you  !  and  come  here,  and  wre  shall  see  how 
much  better  you  can  do  than  we  have  done." 

Juan  de  Anasco,  though  prone  to  be  passionate, 
recollected  himself  in  his  anger,  and  restrained  his 
tongue.  The  companions  of  Gomez  Arias  told  him 
the  true  state  of  the  case  :  he  saw  that  he  had  been 
wrong  in  speaking  so  abruptly  to  the  veteran,  whose 
rough  reply  was  incited  by  his  vexatious  situation, 
rather  than  by  any  personal  disrespect. 

Juan  de  Anasco  often  drew  upon  himself  like  re 
buffs  in  this  and  other  expeditions,  by  the  hastiness 
of  his  tongue  and  temper  ;  for  there  is  nothing  of 
which  a  partisan  commander,  in  these  rough  adven 
turous  scouting  parties,  ought  to  be  more  observant, 
than  to  treat  his  comrades  with  kindness  and  civility. 
When  any  toils  and  hardships  are  to  be  encounter 
ed,  he  should  excite  them  by  words  ;  and  when  it 
becomes  necessary  to  use  the  latter,  they  should  be 
kind  and  temperate,  as  they  do  not  cost  more  than 
harsh  ones,  and  are  infinitely  more  effectual. 


199 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

They  capture  some  of  the  natives.     Perplexed  with 
fears  for  the  safety  of  the  garrison  at  Hirrihigua. 
Their  arrival  there. 

1539.  WHEN  the  discord  was  appeased  the  Span 
iards  renewed  their  efforts,  and  the  noontide  sun 
having  somewhat  tempered  the  coldness  of  the  wa 
ter,  the  horses  were  slowly  forced  across,  so  that 
by  three  in  the  afternoon  all  had  passed  over. 

They  were,  indeed,  in  a  wretched  plight,  drench 
ed  with  water,  worn  out  with  excessive  toil,  be 
numbed  with  cold,  exhausted  with  hunger,  and 
what  was  worse,  they  had  but  scanty  provisions 
wherewith  to  recruit  their  strength  and  spirits. 
They  uttered  no  complaint  or  repinings,  however, 
but  rejoiced  to  have  crossed  this  much  dreaded  pass, 
and  that  no  enemy  had  opposed  them ;  for,  had 
but  fifty  of  the  savages  hemmed  them  in,  where 
would  have  been  these  brave  cavaliers  ?  The  ne 
glect  of  the  Indians  in  attacking  them  was,  most 
probably,  owing  to  the  distance  of  the  morass  from 


200  CONQUEST    OP    FLORIDA. 

any  hamlet  or  village,  and  it  was  now  the  winter 
season,  during  which  time  the  natives,  as  they  went 
naked,  seldom  left  their  houses. 

The  Spaniards  agreed  to  pass  this  night  in  an  ex 
tensive  plain  near  the  morass,  for  they  and  their 
horses  were  so  much  fatigued  that  they  could  not 
travel  a  step.  They  made  large  fires,  therefore,  to 
warm  themselves,  and  found  consolation  in  the  re 
flection,  that  from  this  place  unto  Hirrihigua,  whither 
they  were  journeying,  they  would  encounter  no  dif 
ficult  passes. 

When  night  came  they  slept  with  the  same  pre 
cautions  as  before,  and  resumed  their  march  before 
daybreak.  In  this  way  they  travelled  two  days 
without  meeting  any  thing  worthy  of  note.  The 
horses  of  the  two  companions  who  had  died,  went 
free,  saddled  and  bridled,  sometimes  following  the 
others,  sometimes  taking  the  lead  and  keeping  as 
regularly  to  the  route  as  if  they  had  riders  to  guide 
them.  The  night  of  the  tenth  day  of  their  journey 
was  passed  within  three  leagues  of  the  village  of 
Mucozo. 

A  little  past  midnight  they  were  again  in  the  sad 
dle.  They  had  not  gone  far  before  Pedro  Moron, 
the  half-blood,  so  noted  for  the  quickness  of  his 
scent,  suddenly  cried  out  "  take  heed  !  I  smell  fire 
at  no  great  distance."  They  looked  about  them 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  201 

but  could  see  nothing  of  the  kind,  nor  could  they 
perceive  the  smell  of  tire. 

After  proceeding  about  a  league  further,  Moron 
again  came  to  a  halt.  "  I  am  certain,"  said  he, 
"  that  there  is  a  fire  somewhere,  close  at  hand." 
They  now  proceeded  warily,  keeping  a  sharp  look 
out,  and  after  a  little  while  discovered  a  fire  in  a 
forest  hard  by.  Drawing  silently  near,  they  per 
ceived  a  number  of  Indians,  with  their  wives  and 
children,  seated  round  it,  cooking  and  eating  fish. 
Though  they  supposed  them  to  be  subjects  to  the 
friendly  Cacique  Mucozo,  they  resolved  to  capture 
as  many  as  they  could,  and  ascertain  whether  this 
chieftain  continued  at  peace  with  Pedro  Calderon. 
In  case  he  did  not,  they  would  be  able  to  retain 
them  prisoners  of  war  and  send  them  as  slaves  to 
Havana.  They  accordingly  dashed  forward  to  sur 
round  them.  The  savages  started  up  on  hearing 
the  sudden  tramp  of  the  horses,  and  made  for  the 
woods.  Many  eluded  pursuit  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  and  many  escaped  in  the  thickets.  They 
took  prisoner  about  twenty  persons,  women  arid 
children  ;  who  continually  called  out  the  name  of 
Ortiz,  desiring  to  remind  the  Spaniards  of  the  past 
kindness  of  their  Cacique.  But  these  availed  no 
thing  ;  they  were  detained  prisoners. 

The  half  starved  Spaniards,  without  dismounting, 


202  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

made  a  greedy  meal  on  the  fish,  not  waiting  to 
cleanse  them  from  the  sand  with  which  the  tramp 
ling  of  the  Indians  and  the  horses  had  covered  them. 

Refreshed  by  their  hasty  repast,  they  continued 
their  journey,  keeping  clear  of  the  village  of  Mu- 
cozo.  After  travelling  five  leagues,  the  horse  of 
Juan  Lopez  Cacho  gave  out  ;  having  never  re 
covered  from  his  sufferings  in  crossing  the  river 
Ocali.  His  rider  had  fared  better,  having  been  re 
stored,  partly  by  the  sudden  alarm  in  the  night,  and 
chiefly,  by  the  natural  vigour  of  his  age,  being  not 
more  than  twenty  years  old.  Throughout  the  resi 
due  of  the  journey  he  had  been  as  active  as  any  of 
his  companions. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  get  the  horse  on,  although 
within  six  leagues  of  the  end  of  his  journey,  they 
left  him  in  a  verdant  meadow  where  there  was 
abundance  of  pasturage,  and  hung  his  saddle  and 
bridle  in  a  tree,  so  that  any  Indian  who  should  use 
him,  might  have  him  with  his  furniture.  They 
greatly  feared,  however,  that  as  soon  as  the  Indians 
found  him  they  would  kill  him.  After  travelling  for 
"*  nearly  five  leagues,  they  arrived  within  a  league  of 
the  village  of  Hirrihigua,  where  they  expected  to 
find  Captain  Pedro  Calderon,  with  forty  horse  and 
eighty  foot.  They  examined  the  ground  narrowly 
as  they  rode  along,  hoping  to  find  some  tracks  of 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  203 

the  horses  ;  for  as  the  village  was  so  near,  and  the 
country  free  from  wood,  it  seemed  to  them  natural 
that  their  countrymen  should  have  rode  out  as  far 
as  this,  and  even  further.  Discovering,  however, 
no  traces  of  the  kind,  they  were  filled  with  dismal 
forebodings,  fearing  that  Calderon  and  his  men  had 
been  massacred  by  the  natives,  or  had  left  the  coun 
try  in  the  caravels.  In  either  case,  what  were  they 
to  do  ?  Isolated  as  it  were,  surrounded  by  ene 
mies,  with  no  barque  in  which  to  leave  the  country, 
and  without  the  means  of  building  one  !  To  return 
to  the  Governor,  appeared  to  them  impossible,  after 
what  they  had  suffered  in  coming.  As  they  had  dis 
cussed  their  forlorn  situation,  they  unanimously 
agreed,  that  if  they  did  not  find  their  companions 
in  Hirrihigua,  they  would  retire  into  some  of  the 
secret  fastnesses  of  the  adjacent  forests,  where  there 
was  abundance  of  grass  for  the  horses.  The  super 
fluous  horse  they  would  kill,  and  dry  .his  flesh  for 
food  for  the  journey  ;  and  wrhen  the  other  horses 
had  sufficiently  recruited,  they  would  attempt  to  re 
turn  to  the  Governor.  Should  they  be  killed  by 
the  road,  they  would  die  like  true  and  faithful  sol 
diers  ;  if  they  arrived  safe,  they  would  have  accom 
plished  their  commander's  orders. 

With  this  heroic  resolve  they  pushed  on  ;  the  fur 
ther  they  advanced,  however,  the  more  were  they 


204  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

confirmed  in  their  fears  and  suspicions ;  for  they 
discovered  no  trace  of  their  comrades.  At  length, 
they  came  to  a  small  lake,  which  was  less  than  half 
a  league  from  the  village.  Here  they  found  fresh 
tracks  of  horses,  and  near  the  water,  marks  of  their 
countrymen  having  made  lye  and  wrashed  their 
clothes  there. 

A  joyful  shout  burst  from  the  lips  of  every  Span 
iard.  The  horses  were  dragging  wearily  along, 
but  the  moment  they  scented  the  traces  of  the 
others,  they  threw  up  their  heads,  pricked  their  ears, 
and  neighed  loud  and  shrill,  plunging  and  leaping 
about  as  if  just  from  the  stable:  setting  off  now  at  a 
round  rate,  they  soon  accomplished  the  remainder 
of  their  journey. 

The  sun  was  setting  as  they  came  in  sight  of  the 
village.  The  night  patrole  wrere  defiling  out  two 
by  two,  on  horseback,  with  lance  and  shield,  and 
shining  armour.  Juan  de  Anasco  and  his  followers 
fell  into  the  same  order,  and,  as  if  they  were  tilting 
in  the  lists,  they  advanced  at  a  furious  gallop, 
rending  the  air  with  huzzas  and  joyous  shouts. 
Pedro  Calderon  and  his  men  sallied  out  to  meet 
them,  and  received  them  with  open  arms.  Instead 
of  inquiring,  however,  after  the  health  and  welfare 
of  the  army  and  the  Governor,  and  their  particular 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  205 

friends,  they  anxiously  demanded  whether  there 
was  any  gold  in  the  country  ! 

Anasco,  without  delay,  inquired  of  Calderon 
whether  the  natives  of  this  province,  and  the  vassals 
of  Mucozo,  had  continued  peaceable  and  friendly  ; 
and  learning  that  they  had,  he  directed  that  the 
prisoners  recently  taken  should  be  immediately 
liberated,  and  sent  home  to  their  country  loaded 
with  presents.  By  them  he  sent  an  invitation  to 
Mucozo  to  make  him  a  visit  with  a  train  of  attend 
ants,  to  convey  to  their  homes  the  sea  stores  and 
other  articles  which,  on  their  departure,  they  in 
tended  leaving  behind  :  at  the  same  time  he  recom 
mended  to  his  care  the  horse  W7hich  had  been  left 
in  his  territory. 

The  Indians  went  away,  delighted  with  this  kind 
treatment,  and  on  the  third  day,  came  the  good  Mu 
cozo,  followed  by  his  warriors  and  a  train  of  attend 
ants  ;  two  of  whom  led  the  horse,  while  the  others 
carried  the  saddle  and  bridle,  as  they  knew  not  how 
to  use  them.  Mucozo  embraced  Anasco  and  his 
comrades,  inquired  particularly  after  the  Governor 
and  the  army,  and  made  him  relate  the  particulars 
of  their  going  and  coming,  their  battles  and  skir 
mishes,  and  the  toils,  the  hunger,  and  the  privations 
they  had  suffered.  After  hearing  the  whole  detail, 
he  observed  that  he  would  rejoice  much  if  he  could 
18 


206  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

impress  his  spirit  and  will  upon  the  other  Caciques 
throughout  the  land,  that  all  might  serve  the  Go 
vernor  and  his  people  as  they  merited  and  he  de 
sired. 

Juan  de  Anasco  was  struck  with  the  difference 
between  the  reception  he  met  with  from  this  noble 
Cacique,  and  that  from  his  own  countrymen,  whose 
first  inquiry  had  been  after  gold.  With  a  grateful 
heart,  he  thanked  him  for  the  kindness  he  had  shown 
Calderon  and  his  soldiers,  and  delivered  him  many 
kind  messages  from  the  Governor. 


207 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Anasco  sails  in  quest  of  the  Bay  of  Ante.  Gomez 
Arias  embarks  for  the  Havana ;  and  Calderon 
prepares  to  march  to  join  the  army. 

1539.  JUAN  de  Anasco  now  set  to  work  to  dis 
charge  the  duties  of  his  mission.  He  was  to  em 
bark  in  the  two  brigantines,  and  to  coast  to  the 
westward  until  he  should  arrive  at  the  Bay  of  Aute, 
which  he  had  discovered  with  so  much  toil,  as  has 
been  already  related.  He  brought  orders,  also,  from 
the  Governor  to  Captain  Pedro  Calderon,  to  rejoin 
him  with  his  troops,  by  land  :  and  the  worthy  cava 
lier  Gomez  Arias,  was  to  sail  for  Havana  in  the  ca 
ravel,  to  carry  news  to  Dona  Isabel  de  Bobadilla  of 
the  events  of  the  expedition. 

The  whole  harbour,  therefore,  was  in  a  bustle. 
The  brigantines  and  caravel  were  careened  and  re 
paired  ;  the  sea  stores,  sails,  rigging  and  equipments 
carried  on  board,  and  the  crews  mustered  and  em 
barked.  Equal  stir  was  made  for  the  march  by 
land  ;  preparing  the  furniture  for  the  horses,  furbish- 


208  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ing  up  armour  and  weapons,  and  culling  out  every 
article  that  was  necessary  for  the  service. 

After  every  thing  had  been  selected  that  was  re 
quired  either  for  sea  or  land,  there  remained  an 
abundance  of  all  kinds  of  articles,  which  they  could 
not  take  with  them  ;  such  as  cassava  bread,  cloth 
ing,  cuirasses,  helmets,  bucklers,  lances,  pikes,  be 
side  sea  stores,  and  quantities  of  steel  and  iron, 
which  the  generous  spirited  Governor  had  provided 
in  such  profusion  for  his  expedition.  All  these  su 
perfluous  articles  they  gave  to  Mucozo,  in  reward 
of  his  constant  friendship.  The  Cacique  found  him 
self  suddenly  overwhelmed  with  riches.  During 
four  days  that  he  remained  at  the  harbour,  and  for 
the  residue  of  the  term  that  the  Spaniards  sojourn 
ed  there,  his  subjects  were  incessantly  busy,  going 
to  and  fro  like  ants,  bearing  off  these  inestimable 
presents  to  his  village.  Every  preparation  being 
made,  the  crews  being  embarked,  beside  thirty  sol 
diers  who  were  distributed  in  the  brigantines  and 
caravel,  and  twenty  Indian  women  for  Dona  Isa 
bel,*  the  different  commanders  took  leave  of  each 
other,  and  of  their  various  comrades.  Juan  de 
Anasco  made  sail  in  the  brigantines  in  quest  of  the 
Bay  of  Aute  ;  Gomez  Arias  in  the  caravel  for  Ha- 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  12. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  209 

vana,  and  Pedro  Calderori  prepared  to  march,  as 
soon  as  he  should  have  seen  them  fairly  under  way.* 
With  this  cavalier  and  his  little  army  we  shall  keep 
for  the  present,  hoping  to  meet  with  the  stout  Juan 
de  Anasco  at  some  future  day. 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  P.  2.  L.  2.  c.  27. 

18* 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Breaking  up  of  the  garrison  at  Hirrihigua.  Pedro 
Calderon  sets  out  to  rejoin  the  Governor.  Despe 
rate  conflict  with  the  natives  in  crossing  the  Great 
Swamp. 

1539.  No  sooner  had  Anasco  and  Arias  set  sail, 
than  Calderon  with  a  force  of  seventy  horse  and 
fifty  foot,  sallied  out  of  Hirrihigua,  leaving  the  gar 
dens  and  the  fields  they  had  planted  in  full  and  fresh 
vegetation.  They  reached  the  village  of  the  kind 
Mucozo  on  the  evening  of  the  second  day.  He 
came  out  to  welcome  them,  and  hospitably  quar 
tered  them  for  that  night ;  and  the  next  day  he  es 
corted  them  to  the  frontier  of  his  dominions,  where 
he  took  leave  of  them  with  many  expressions  of  re 
gret. 

Pedro  Calderon  with  his  forces  continued  his 
march  until  evening,  when  they  encamped  in  a  plain 
skirted  by  a  forest.  The  night  darkened  apace, 
when  of  a  sudden  a  party  of  savages  rushed  into 
the  encampment ;  the  Spaniards  attacked  them 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  211 

sword  in  hand,  and  dispersed  and  pursued  them  to 
the  entrance  of  the  woods.  No  sooner,  however, 
had  they  returned  to  the  camp  than  the  savages 
were  on  their  track,  and  in  this  manner  annoyed 
them  all  the  night  long.  During  these  skirmishes, 
one  of  the  horsemen  pursued  an  Indian  ;  who,  find 
ing  that  the  horse  gained  upon  him,  and  that  he 
would  soon  be  overtaken,  turned  suddenly  round 
with  an  arrow  fixed  in  his  bow,  and  drew  at  the 
same  moment  that  the  horseman  threw  his  lance. 
The  savage  fell  dead,  but  not  unrevenged  ;  for,  his 
arrow7  pierced  the  horse's  breast  with  a  mortal 
wound,  and  brought  him  down  upon  the  spot,  so 
that  Indian,  Christian,  and  horse  rolled  together 
upon  the  ground. 

This  Indian  must  have  been  one  of  their  chief 
warriors ;  for,  upon  his  fall,  they  all  immediately 
fled  into  the  forest  and  were  not  again  seen. 

The  horse  that  was  slain,  was  the  famous  steed 
of  Gonzalo  Silvestre.  The  Spaniards,  astonished 
that  this  powerful  animal  should  have  died  so  sud 
denly,  merely  by  the  wound  of  an  arrow,  opened 
his  body  and  found  that  the  dart  had  penetrated  his 
breast,  and  passed  through  his  heart  to  the  very  en 
trails.  So  powerful  and  adroit  were  the  natives  of 
Florida  in  the  use  of  the  bow. 

The  next  evening,  the  Spaniards  slept  on  the 


212  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

margin  of  the  grand  morass,  and  the  following  morn 
ing  they  traversed  it  without  opposition  from  the 
enemy.  They  pushed  on  with  forced  marches,  the 
horsemen  dismounting  by  turns,  and  relieving  the 
foot  soldiers.  Thus  they  travelled  for  several  days, 
without  a  single  brush  with  the  natives,  finding  re 
freshment  and  food  in  the  villages.  These  were 
all  abandoned,  and  the  whole  country  was  as  si 
lent  as  if  uninhabited,  until  they  arrived  at  the  war 
like  province  of  Apalachee. 

Having  encamped  for  a  night  upon  the  skirts  of 
the  thick  forest  bordering  the  morass,  they  entered 
on  the  following  morning  the  narrow  defile,  half  a 
league  in  length,  through  the  close  woods,  and  reach 
ing  the  water,  the  foot  soldiers  passed  over  the  In 
dian  bridge  of  logs,  \vhile  the  horse  swam  the  deep 
est  part  of  the  channel.  Calderon,  finding  that  they 
had  passed  over  the  deepest  and  most  perilous  part 
of  the  morass,  wished  to  hasten  over  the  residue. 
He  therefore,  ordered  ten  horsemen  to  take  behind 
them  five  arquebusiers,  and  five  cross  bowmen,  and 
seize  upon  the  narrow  pass  through  the  forest  which 
was  on  the  opposite  bank.  They  set  off  at  full  speed 
through  the  \vater,  when  shrill  cries  and  yells  arose 
from  different  quarters,  and  Indians  rushed  forth 
from  behind  bushes,  brakes  and  the  trunks  of  huge 
trees,  and  discharged  showers  of  arrows  at  them. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  213 

In  the  very  first  discharge,  the  horse  of  Alvaro 
Fernandez,  a  Portuguese,  was  killed,  and  five  others 
wounded.  The  horses,  panic-struck  with  the  sud 
den  attack  and  clamour,  turned  and  fled  ;  their  mas 
ters  could  not  restrain  them.  Plunging  and  rearing 
in  the  water,  which  was  up  to  their  breasts,  they 
threw  off  the  foot  soldiers,  who  were  all  wounded, 
as  the  wheeling  of  the  horse  exposed  their  shoulders 
to  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  The  Indians  perceiving 
their  fall,  rushed  forward  to  despatch  them,  giving 
their  war-whoop  and  shout  of  victory,  to  encourage 
their  companions. 

The  suddenness  of  the  attack,  the  overthrow  of 
the  ten  archers,  the  flight  of  the  horses,  the  throng 
ing  of  hordes  of  savages  to  the  combat,  produced  a 
scene  of  wild  confusion.  The  Spaniards  were  be 
wildered,  and  as  the  battle  was  in  the  water,  and 
the  horse  could  render  them  no  assistance,  they 
were  greatly  alarmed  for  the  result  of  the  conflict. 

The  Indians,  on  the  contrary,  encouraged  by 
the  success  of  their,  first  efforts,  attacked  the  fallen 
archers  with  greater  fury.  The  nearest  Spaniards 
rushed  across  the  bridge  to  their  rescue.  On  their 
left  advanced  a  formidable  band  of  savages  ;  about 
twenty  paces  before  them  stalked  an  Indian,  per 
fectly  naked,  fearless  and  bold  in  his  bearing,  with 
a  large  plume  of  feathers  upon  his  head.  His  ob- 


214  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ject  evidently  was  to  gain  the  shelter  of  a  huge  tree, 
which  lay  between  him  and  the  Spaniards,  from  be 
hind  which  he  might  annoy  them,  and  even  prevent 
their  passing.  Gonzalo  Silvestre,  who  happened  to 
be  near  the  tree,  perceived  his  intention  and  shout 
ed  out  to  Anton  Galvon.  Galvon  was  one  of  those 
who  had  been  dismounted  and  wounded,  but  like  a 
true  soldier,  he  had  kept  hold  of  his  cross-bow.  He 
followed  behind  Silvestre,  who  shielded  him  with  a 
quilted  garment,  which  he  had  found  floating  in  the 
water  ;  advising  him  to  shoot  at  none  but  the  lead 
ing  Indian,  who  was  evidently  the  Chief.  In  this 
manner  they  gained  the  tree,  but  the  movement  did 
not  escape  the  observation  of  the  savage  ;  he  bent 
his  bow  and  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  sped  three 
arrows.  They  were  sent  with  unerring  aim,  but 
Silvestre  received  them  upon  the  garment  which  he 
used  as  a  shield,  which  being  wet,  proved  an  effec 
tual  defence. 

Anton  Galvon  who  had  reserved  his  fire  until  the 
Indian  should  draw  near,  now  fixed  a  bolt  in  his 
cross-bow,  and  sent  it  with  such  good  aim,  that  it 
pierced  the  savage  through  the  breast ;  the  latter 
staggered  a  few  paces,  crying  out  to  his  followers, 
"  These  traitors  have  slain  me."  They  rushed  up 
to  his  aid,  received  him  in  their  arms  with  dismal 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  215 

murmurs,  and  passing  him  from  one  to  the  other, 
conveyed  him  from  the  field  of  battle. 

The  combat  was  not  less  cruel  and  bloody  in 
other  parts  of  the  morass.  A  large  body  of  the  In 
dians  advanced  on  the  right.  A  valiant  soldier,  An 
dres  de  Meneses,  with  ten  or  twelve  others,  stood 
to  receive  them  ;  Andres  received  four  arrows  in 
his  thighs  and  fell  into  the  water  ;  luckily  his  large 
shield  covered  him,  and  the  enemy  leaving  him  fired 
upon  his  companions,  five  of  whom  were  grievous 
ly  wounded. 

The  Indians,  elated  by  their  successes,  considered 
the  victory  as  already  theirs,  and  redoubled  their  ef 
forts.  The  Spaniards  were  evidently  losing  ground, 
for  only  fifty  of  their  number  could  be  brought  into 
the  engagement,  and  the  horse  could  neither  render 
assistance,  nor  molest  the  enemy.  They  fought,  how 
ever,  desperately, — they  were  struggling  for  life ;  for, 
\vith  them,  it  was  either  victory  or  death.  At  this 
critical  moment,  the  news  spread  among  the  In 
dians  that  their  chief  was  mortally  wounded.  It 
gave  an  immediate  check  to  their  ardour  ;  they 
soon  began  slowly  to  retreat,  though  keeping  up  a 
constant  discharge  of  arrows. 

The  Spaniards  perceiving  these  signs  of  faltering 
among  their  adversaries,  nowT  rallied,  charged  upon 
them,  and  drove  them  out  of  the  morass,  pursued 


216  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

them  to  the  narrow  defile  of  the  forest,  and  took 
possession  of  the  cleared  field  in  which  De  Soto 
had  formerly  encamped. 

This  the  savages  had  strongly  fortified,  but  had 
abandoned  it  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  their  chief. 
Here  the  Spaniards  halted  for  the  night,  as  the  place 
was  strong  and  only  accessible  through  the  narrow 
defile.  Scarcely  a  man  among  them  escaped  with 
out  a  wound  ;  and  the  least  injured  bound  up  and 
dressed  the  wounds  of  their  comrades.  Not  an  eye 
was  closed  this  night,  every  man  maintained  an 
anxious  vigil,  and  the  savages  who  hovered  around 
them,  kept  up  a  dread  and  dismal  howling  until 
break  of  day. 

The  lucky  shot  of  Anton  Galvon  was  the  salva 
tion  of  the  Spaniards  this  day ;  for  the  proud  In 
dian  who  was  laid  low  by  his  bolt,  proved  to  be  the 
Chief,  whose  fall  changed  the  tide  of  battle  in  their 
favour.  But  for  this,  every  one  of  them  would  pro 
bably  have  been  massacred. 

When  morning  came,  they  resumed  their  march, 
driving  the  enemy  before  them  through  the  defile  cf 
the  forest.  At  length  they  issued  out  into  the  open 
woods,  where  the  enemy  availed  themselves  of  the 
same  barriers  and  palisades  which  had  stood  there 
when  De  Soto  passed.  From  behind  these  they 
would  sally  out,  discharge  a  shower  of  arrows,  and 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  217 

then  retreat ;  wounding  in  this  way  above  twenty 
Spaniards.  Every  inch  of  ground  was  disputed, 
until  at  the  end  of  two  leagues,  they  came  to  an 
open  plain,  where  the  enemy  left  them  through  fear 
of  the  cavalry.  They  now  marched  on  for  five 
leagues,  and  halted  in  an  open  country,  that  the 
wounded  might  have  some  repose  ;  but  as  soon  as 
night  set  in,  the  Indians  again  beset  the  camp  with 
dreadful  yells  and  howlings,  and  bitter  and  taunting 
speeches.  The  little  army  of  Spaniards  was  worn 
out  by  repeated  assaults  ;  the  horsemen  would  spring 
into  their  saddles  and  pursue  the  enemy  helter  skel 
ter.  The  Indians  would  launch  their  arrows  and 
then  fly  in  every  direction  ;  but  only  to  repeat  the 
same  annoyances  the  moment  the  troopers  returned 
to  the  camp. 

19 


218 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Fierce  struggle  with  the  natives  at  the  passage  of  a 
stream.     Arrival  at  the  milage  of  Apalachee. 

1539.  WITH  the  day,  the  Spaniards  continued 
their  march,  and  came  to  a  forest  skirting  a  deep 
stream,  which  the  Indians  had  obstructed  with  pali 
sades,  and  strong  barriers  placed  here  and  there. 
Some  of  the  Spaniards,  having  formerly  passed 
through  this,  wTere  enabled  to  counsel  the  mode  of 
attack.  It  was  ordered  that  those  on  horses  should 
dismount,  being  better  armed  than  the  rest,  and 
4hat  thirty  of  them,  with  shields,  swords,  and  hatch 
ets,  should  go  in  the  vanguard  to  destroy  the  barri 
cades.  Those  lightly  armed  were  to  mount  the 
horses,  as  they  were  of  no  use  in  this  pass,  and  to 
go  with  the  baggage  and  serving  men  in  the  centre. 
The  other  twenty,  who  were  well  armed,  were  to 
form  a  rear  guard.  In  this  order  they  entered  the 
forest. 

The  Indians,  seeing  that  the  Spaniards  were  few 
in  number,  and  that  they  could  not  use  their  horses, 
charged  with  great  impetuosity,  confident  of  an  easy 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  219 

conquest.  The  Spaniards  forced  their  way  to  the 
palisades,  where  the  battle  became  obstinate,  the 
one  struggling  to  cut  a  road,  and  the  others  to  de 
fend  it.  While  some  of  the  soldiers  kept  the  enemy 
at  bay  with  their  swords,  others  hacked  with  their 
hatchets  at  the  fastenings  of  wild  vines  by  which 
the  barriers  were  fastened  as  with  cords.  In  this 
way  they  demolished  them  one  by  one,  but  at  the 
expense  of  many  grievous  wounds.  Alvaro  Fer 
nandez,  the  Portuguese,  also,  lost  another  horse, 
which  was  transfixed  with  arrows. 

At  length,  the  Spaniards  fought  their  way  across 
this  perilous  pass,  and  then  travelled  with  less  trou 
ble  over  the  plains,  where  the  enemy  avoided  them, 
through  fear  of  the  horses.  But  whenever  there 
were  any  woods  near  the  road,  the  Indians  were 
sure  to  be  in  ambush,  whence  they  would  make 
their  attacks,  shouting,  and  repeating  frequently 
these  words,  "  Where  are  you  going,  robbers?  we 
have  already  killed  your  chief  and  all  his  warriors." 

In  this  manner,  these  one  hundred  and  fifty  Span 
iards,  skirmishing  and  battling  all  day,  arrived  at 
sunset  in  Apalachee.  They  had  to  travel  slowly, 
on  account  of  the  many  who  were  wounded,  ten  or 
twelve  of  whom  afterwards  died  ;  one  of  these  was 
Andres  de  Meneses,  a  valiant  soldier. 

As  they  drew  nigh  the  village,  they  became  ex- 


220  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

ceedingly  anxious,  for  they  descried  neither  man  nor 
horse,  nor  any  sign  of  life.  They  felt  sure  that  the 
yells  of  the  savages  must  have  reached  the  village, 
and  as  their  comrades  came  not  out  to  their  assist 
ance,  they  dreaded  lest  the  boasts  of  the  natives 
that  they  had  despatched  De  Soto  and  all  his  army, 
should  prove  true. 

They  wound  slowly  into  the  village,  but  their 
anxiety  was  soon  relieved  by  the  sight  of  the  Go 
vernor,  who  received  them  like  an  affectionate 
father.  They  wrere  hailed,  too,  by  their  comrades, 
with  shouts  of  joy,  as  men  risen  from  the  dead  ;  for 
the  Indians,  to  grieve  and  alarm  De  Soto,  had  assu 
red  him  that  they  were  all  slain  by  the  road  : — a  fate 
he  thought  too  probable,  when  he  considered  that  this 
little  band  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  men  had  to  cut 
their  way  through  a  wilderness  in  arms,  which  he, 
with  a  force  of  eight  hundred  men,  had  found  such 
difficulty  in  passing. 

Among  the  first  to  greet  Pedro  Calderon  on  his 
arrival  at  Apalachee,  was  Juan  de  Anasco.  This 
cavalier  had  made  his  voyage  in  the  two  brigan- 
tines,  without  any  adverse  accident,  and  arrived 
safely  in  the  Bay  of  Aute  on  the  29th  of  December.* 
The  Governor  had  calculated  the  probable  time  it 
would  take  for  Anasco  to  make  his  journey  and  his 

*  Portuguese  Relation,  c.  12. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  221 

voyage,  and  had  taken  precautions  accordingly. 
For  twelve  days  before  his  arrival  companies  of 
horse  and  foot  marched,  and  counter-marched,  be 
tween  the  camp  and  the  bay,  so  that  while  one  body 
was  advancing  towards  the  fort,  the  other  was  re 
turning.  In  this  way  they  kept  the  road  clear  of 
the  enemy,  and,  when  at  the  bay,  placed  their  stand 
ards  in  the  highest  trees,  that  they  might  be  readily 
descried  from  the  sea. 

Juan  de  Anasco  saw  them,  landed  confidently, 
and  without  molestation,  and  leaving  his  brigantines 
well  manned  in  the  bay,  came  up  under  the  escort 
of  the  companies  to  the  camp. 

It  was  a  great  gratification  for  Anasco  and  Cal- 
deron  to  meet  each  other,  and  to  be  once  more 
united  to  the  Governor  and  their  other  brother  offi 
cers  and  soldiers.  Companionship  in  toils  and 
dangers,  had  attached  them  strongly  to  each  other, 
and  the  proofs  they  had  of  each  other's  fortitude 
and  valour,  made  them  ready,  when  together,  to 
brave  the  greatest  perils  and  hardships.  Thus  hap 
pily  united,  a  little  fraternity  in  arms,  in  the  midst 
of  a  hostile  wilderness,  this  band  of  adventurous 
Spaniards  passed  their  winter  cheerily  together  in 
the  village  of  Apalachee. 


19* 


222 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

The  exploring  expedition  of  Diego  Maldonado. 

1539.  A  FEW  days  after  the  arrival  of  Juan  do 
Anasco,  the  Governor  called  to  him  the  hardy  and 
trusty  Diego  Maldonado,  and,  advising  him  to  leave 
his  own  band  of  followers  under  the  command  of  his 
comrade,  Juan  de  Guzman,  ordered  him  to  speed  to 
the  Bay  of  Aute,  set  sail  with  the  brigantines,  and 
explore  the  coast  to  the  westward,  taking  note  of 
all  its  rivers,  bays,  and  harbours. 

Maldonado  set  sail  as  directed,  and  coasted  along 
to  the  west  for  seventy  leagues,  when  he  discover 
ed  a  very  beautiful  harbour,  called  Achusi.*  It 
was  land-locked  and  completely  sheltered  from  all 
winds,  ample  enough  for  a  fleet  to  ride  in,  and  its 

*  The  present  Bay  of  Pensacola.  Vide  Martin's  Louisiana, 
V.  1.  p.  10.  The  Portuguese  narrator  calls  this  port  Ochuse, 
and  says  that  Maldonado  set  out  by  land,  with  a  detachment  of  fifty 
foot  soldiers,  and  marched  along  the  coast  until  he  discovered 
the  bay.  We  follow  the  Inca's  account,  which  is  adopted  by 
Herrera  and  others. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  223 

shores  so  bold,  that  a  vessel  might  anchor  near  the 
land. 

The  natives  invited  him  on  shore  with  many  prof 
fers  of  hospitality.  Seeing  he  mistrusted  them,  they 
came,  without  hesitation,  on  board  of  the  brigan- 
tines,  and  traded  with  the  Spaniards,  bringing  them 
whatever  they  demanded.  This  friendly  inter 
course  gave  Maldonado  opportunities  to  go  about  in 
his  small  boats,  to  take  soundings,  and  note  all  the 
advantages  of  the  bay.  The  Cacique,  moved  by 
the  representations  his  subjects  brought  of  the  brig- 
antines,  and  relying  on  the  good  faith  of  the  stran 
gers,  in  a  luckless  hour,  ventured  on  board.  The 
Spaniards,  having  made  all  the  necessary  observa 
tions,  and  being  apprised  of  the  rank  of  one  of  their 
visiters,  hastily  weighed  anchor  ;  thus  requiting  the 
hospitality  of  the  simple-hearted  natives,  by  treache 
rously  bearing  away  their  Cacique  prisoner.  In  two 
months  from  the  time  of  his  departure,  Maldonado 
was  again  at  the  camp. 

De  Soto  was  rejoiced  at  the  accounts  given  of 
the  Bay  of  Achusi.  It  was  the  kind  of  seaport  re 
quired  for  his  projected  empire  ;  and  where  he 
might  receive  the  reinforcements  and  supplies  from 
Havana,  necessary  to  the  prosecution  of  his  grand 
scheme  of  conquest  and  colonization.  It  was  now 
the  latter  part  of  February  ;  he  despatched  Maldo- 


224  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

nado  in  the  brigantines  to  Havana,  to  proclaim  his 
success,  and  to  return  with  those  vessels,  the  cara 
vel  of  Gomez  Arias,  and  any  other  shipping  he 
could  purchase,  well  freighted  with  clothing,  wea 
pons  and  ammunition  of  all  kinds.  Gomez  Arias 
was  likewise  to  return  with  him,  as  De  Soto  had  a 
great  opinion  of  his  prudence  and  sagacity  in  coun 
cil,  and  his  hardihood,  perseverance,  and  intrepidity 
in  warfare.  They  were  to  rendezvous  in  the  bay  of 
Achusi  in  the  following  month  of  October,  at  which 
time  De  Soto  proposed  to  meet  them  there,  having, 
in  the  interim,  made  a  circuit  through  the  interior 
of  the  country,  to  explore  the  surrounding  pro 
vinces.* 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  12.      Garcilaso   de  la  Vega,  P.  2, 
L.  2,  c.  23 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Strange  adventures  that  befell  the  Spaniards  while, 
wintering  in  Apalachee. 

1539.  THE  natives  of  Apalachee  were  a  race 
large  of  stature,  of  amazing  vigour  of  arm  and  intre 
pidity  of  spirit,  and  seemed  to  delight  in  war. 
During  the  whole  winter  they  kept  up  alarms  by 
day  and  night,  never  ceasing  from  stratagems  and 
assaults ;  but  the  vigilance  and  promptness  of  the 
Governor,  and  his  great  skill  in  Indian  warfare, 
foiled  every  attempt  of  consequence.  They  never 
pretended  to  oppose  any  body  of  soldiers  drawn  up 
in  squadron,  but  roved  in  bands  about  the  forest  to 
surprise  foraging  parties,  or  lurked  about  among 
thickets  to  cut  off  any  stragglers  from  the  camp. 

If  a  small  party  repaired  to  the  forest  to  cut 
wood,  the  sound  of  their  axes  would  sometimes  at 
tract  a  host  of  foes,  who,  coming  upon  them  by 
stealth,  would  surround  and  massacre  them,  break 
the  chains  of  the  Indian  prisoners  who  had  been 
brought  to  carry  away  the  wood,  and  bear  off  the 
scalps  of  the  slain  as  trophies  wherewith  to  deco- 


226  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

rate  their  bows.  In  this  way  they  picked  off'  more 
than  twenty  soldiers,  and  rendered  the  vicinity  of 
the  village  so  dangerous,  that  the  Spaniards  rarely 
ventured  to  any  distance  unless  well  armed  and  in 
strong  parties.  One  day,  however,  Juan  de  Anasco 
and  six  other  cavaliers,  while  riding  about  the  vil 
lage  chatting  familiarly,  extended  their  ride  into  the 
adjacent  fields.  Not  intending  to  venture  far,  and 
being  in  a  negligent  mood,  they  wore  no  defensive 
armour,  nor  any  weapons  but  their  swords,  except 
ing  one  of  their  number  named  Estevan  Pegado, 
who  had  a  helmet  and  lance. 

Thus  sauntering  along  conversing,  they  spied  in 
a  glade  of  the  woods  hard  by,  a  male  and  female 
Indian,  and  spurred  forward  to  make  them  prisoners. 
The  female  was  so  terrified  at  sight  of  the  horses, 
that  she  stood  like  one  petrified.  The  husband 
seized  her  in  his  arms,  ran  with  her  to  the  woods, 
and  thrust  her  among  the  bushes  ;  then,  seeming  to 
scorn  flight,  he  returned  to  where  he  had  left  his 
bow  and  arrows,  and  seizing  them  up,  made  face 
against  the  enemy. 

The  Spaniards  were  pleased  with  his  spirit,  and 
determined  to  take  him  alive.  Rushing  upon  him, 
therefore,  before  he  had  time  to  discharge  an  arrow, 
they  threw  him  down,  and  crowded  upon  him  to 
prevent  his  rising,  while  Estevan  Pegado  with  his 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  227 

lance  kept  him  to  the  ground.  The  harder  he  was 
pressed,  the  more  furious  he  became.  He  writhed 
and  struggled  under  the  horses'  feet,  and  wounded 
them  in  the  flanks  and  belly  with  thrusts  of  his  bow. 
At  length,  with  a  desperate  effort,  he  sprang  on  his 
feet,  seized  his  bow  in  both  hands,  and  dealt  Estevan 
Pegado  such  a  blow  across  the  forehead  that  the 
blood  streamed  down  his  face.  "  Plague  on  it," 
cried  Pegado,  "  if  we  treat  this  savage  thus  daintily, 
he  will  kill  us  all  seven."  So  saying,  he  rose  in  his 
stirrups,  thrust  his  lance  through  the  breast  of  the 
Indian,  and  pinned  him  dead  to  the  earth. 

In  this  rough  affray  all  the  horses  were  more  or 
less  wounded,  and  one  of  them  afterwards  died  of 
his  wounds.  The  cavaliers  returned  to  the  camp, 
wondering  at  the  temerity  and  prowess  of  the  savage, 
and  not  a  little  ashamed  to  confess  that  one  single 
Indian  had  treated  them  so  roughly. 

At  another  time,  a  party  of  twenty  horse  and  fifty 
foot  sallied  out  on  a  foraging  expedition  to  gather 
maize.  After  they  had  collected  an  ample  supply, 
they  placed  themselves  in  ambush  in  a  hamlet  about 
a  league  from  their  quarters,  in  hopes  of  entrapping 
some  Indians.  In  the  highest  part  of  what  appeared 
to  be  a  temple,  they  placed  a  sentry,  who  after  some 
time  descried  an  Indian  moving  stealthily  across  the 


228  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

public  square  ;  casting  around  furtive  glances,  as  if 
he  dreaded  a  concealed  foe. 

The-  sentinel  gave  the  alarm,  and  Diego  de  Soto, 
nephew  to  the  Governor,  one  of  the  best  soldiers  in 
the  army,  and  an  excellent  horseman,  spurred  into 
the  square  to  capture  him.  Diego  Velasquez,  Mas 
ter  of  the  Horse  to  the  Governor,  followed  at  a  dis 
tance  on  a  hand  gallop,  to  aid  De  Soto  in  case  of 
need. 

The  Indian,  seeing  them  approach,  trusted  for 
safety  to  that  fleetness  of  foot  for  which  his  country 
men  were  remarkable.  Finding,  however,  that  the 
horse  gained  upon  him,  he  took  refuge  under  a  tree, 
as  the  natives  were  accustomed  to  do,  when  they 
had  no  lances  to  defend  them  from  the  horses. 
Here,  fixing  an  arrow  in  his  bow,  he  awaited  the 
approach  of  the  enemy.  Diego  de  Soto  came  gal 
loping  up  to  the  tree,  but,  not  being  able  to  ride  un 
der  it,  wheeled  close  alongside  and  made  a  thrust 
with  his  lance  over  his  left  arm  at  the  Indian  as  he 
dashed  by.  The  latter  evaded  the  blow,  and,  dra\v- 
ing  his  arrow  to  the  head,  let  fly  at  the  moment  that 
the  horse  was  abreast  of  him.  The  shaft  buried 
itself  just  between  the  girth  and  the  stirrup-leather; 
the  horse  went  stumbling  forward  fifteen  or  twenty 
paces  and  fell  dead  without  further  motion. 

Diego  Velasquez  spurred  up  to  the  relief  of  his 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  229 

comrade,  and,  brushing  by  the  tree,  made  a  lunge 
with  his  lance  in  the  same  manner.  His  luck  was  the 
same  ; — the  Indian  dodged  the  lance,  shot  another 
arrow  just  behind  the  stirrup-leather,  and  sent  the 
horse  tumbling  forward  to  take  his  place  beside  his 
companion.  The  two  cavaliers  sprang  upon  their 
feet,  and  rushed  upon  the  Indian  lance  in  hand. 
The  savage,  however,  contented  himself  with  his 
good  fortune,  and  made  off  for  the  woods,  just 
keeping  an  even  pace  ahead  of  them,  scoffing  and 
making  grimaces,  and  crying  out,  "  Let  us  all  fight 
on  foot,  and  we  shall  then  see  who  is  the  best." 
With  this  taunt  he  took  refuge  among  the  thickets, 
leaving  the  cavaliers  to  mourn  over  the  loss  of  their 
gallant  steeds. 

Some  few  days  after  the  misfortune  of  these  two 
horsemen,  Simon  Rodriguez  and  Roque  de  Yelves, 
set  out  on  horesback  to  gather  fruit  that  grew  in  the 
woods  skirting  the  village.  Not  satisfied  with  pluck 
ing  it  from  the  lower  branches,  seated  in  their  sad 
dles,  they  climbed  the  tree  to  gather  it  from  the 
topmost  boughs,  fancying  it  of  better  flavour. 
While  thus  busied,  Roque  de  Yelves  gave  the  alarm 
of  Indians  at  hand,  and  throwing  himself  from  the 
tree,  ran  to  recover  his  horse  ;  but  an  arrow,  with  a 
barb  of  flint,  entered  between  his  shoulders  and 
came  out  of  his  breast ;  he  plunged  forward  and 
20 


230  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

lay  stretched  upon  the  ground.  Rodriguez  was  too 
much  terrified  to  descend.  They  shot  at  him  like 
a  wild  beast,  arid  he  fell  dead,  pierced  by  three  ar 
rows.  Scarce  had  he  touched  the  ground  when 
they  scalped  him  and  bore  off  the  trophy  in  triumph. 
The  arrival  of  some  Spaniards  to  the  rescue  saved 
the  scalp  of  poor  Roque  de  Yelves.  He  related  in 
a  few  words  the  event,  and,  making  confession,  im 
mediately  expired.  The  horses  of  the  slain  Span 
iards  fled  towards  the  camp,  at  the  tumult  and  at 
tack  of  the  Indians.  Upon  the  thigh  of  one  of  them 
was  perceived  a  drop  of  blood.  He  was  taken  to 
a  farrier,  who,  seeing  that  the  wound  was  no  greater 
than  that  of  a  lancet,  said  that  there  was  nothing  to 
cure.  On  the  morning  of  the  ensuing  day  the  horse 
died.  The  Spaniards,  suspecting  that  he  had  been 
struck  by  an  arrow,  opened  the  body  at  the  wound, 
and,  following  the  trace  of  it,  found  an  arrow  which 
had  passed  through  the  thigh  and  the  entrails  and 
lodged  in  the  hollow  of  the  breast.  They  were 
perfectly  amazed  at.  the  result  of  the  examination, 
for  an  arquebuse  could  scarce  have  sent  a  ball  so  far. 


231 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Tidings  of  a  gold  region.     The  Spaniards  break  up 
their  winter  cantonment.     A  fatal  encounter. 

1540.  THE  Governor  remained  five  months  in 
winter  quarters;  and  such  was  the  fertility  of  the 
province  of  Apalachee,  and  the  quantity  of  maize, 
beans,  pumpkins  and  various  other  kinds  of  grain, 
pulse  and  vegetables,  besides  a  variety  of  fruits, 
that  there  was  no  need  of  foraging  more  than  a 
league  and  a  half  around  the  village  to  find  food  in 
abundance,  though  the  force  consisted  of  fifteen 
hundred  persons,  including  Indians  and  above  three 
hundred  horses. 

During  this  time,  De  Soto  endeavoured  to  collect 
information  respecting  the  country  in  the  interior, 
that  he  might  regulate  his  march  in  the  spring.  In 
the  course  of  the  winter  two  Indian  lads  of  about 
sixteen  years  of  age  were  brought  to  him,  who  were 
natives  of  distant  provinces,  and  had  travelled  with 
Indian  traders.  They  offered  to  guide  him  to  those 
provinces ;  and  one  in  particular  spoke  of  a  remote 
province  towards  the  east,  called  Cofachiqui,  go- 


232  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

verned  by  a  female  Cacique,  whose  town  was  of 
great  size,  and  who  received  tribute  from  all  her 
neighbours.  The  Spaniards  showed  him  jewels  of 
gold,  pieces  of  silver,  and  rings  set  with  pearls  and 
precious  stones ;  and  endeavoured  to  ascertain  if 
any  of  those  articles  were  to  be  found  in  Cofachi- 
qui.  He  gave  them  no  doubt  a  vague  and  blunder 
ing  reply,  which  they  interpreted  according  to  their 
wishes.  They  understood  him  that  the  chief  traffic 
in  that  province,  was  in  those  yellow  and  white  me 
tals,*  and  that  pearls  were  to  be  found  there  in  abun 
dance.  It  was  determined,  therefore,  to  march  in 
search  of  Cofachiqui. 

Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  March,  (1540,)  Her- 
nando  de  Soto  broke  up  his  winter  cajitonment, 
and  proceeded  to  the  northeast.  Being  apprised 
that  they  must  travel  many  leagues  through  an  un 
peopled  wilderness,  the  Governor  ordered  his  men 
to  provide  themselves  with  provisions.  The  In 
dians  they  had  captured  and  made  servants,  being 
exposed  naked,  and  in  irons,  during  the  severe  cold 
weather,  had  nearly  all  perished,  so  that  each  sol 
dier  was  obliged  to  carry  his  supply  on  his  back. 

*  The  Portuguese  Narrator  asserts,  that  the  lad  described  the 
manner  in  which  the  gold  was  digged,  melted  and  refined  with 
such  accuracy,  that  those  who  were  experienced  in  mining,  de. 
clared  he  must  have  witnessed  the  process. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  233 

After  a  toilsome  march,  they  arrived  on  the  evening 
of  the  third  day  at  a  small  village  called  Capachi- 
qui.*  It  was  situated  on  high  ground  on  a  kind  of 
peninsula,  being  nearly  surrounded  by  a  miry  marsh, 
more  than  a  hundred  paces  broad,  traversed  in  va 
rious  directions  by  wooden  bridges.  The  village 
commanded  an  extensive  view  over  a  beautiful  val 
ley,  sprinkled  with  small  hamlets.  Here  the  troops 
remained  quartered  for  three  days. 

About  noon  of  the  second  day,  five  halberdiers  of 
the  General's  guard,  sallied  forth  from  the  village, 
accompanied  by  two  other  soldiers,  Francisco  de 
Aguilar  and  Andres  Moreno.  The  latter  was  a 
gay,  good  humoured  fellow,  and  from  frequently 
using  the  exclamation  Angels  !  was  nick-named  by 
his  comrades,  Angel  Moreno.  These  boon  compa 
nions  sallied  forth,  without  orders  from  their  supe 
riors,  and  in  a  heedless  manner,  merely  to  amuse 
themselves,  and  take  a  look  at  the  neighbouring  ham 
lets.  The  five  guards  were  armed  with  their  hal- 
berts,  Aguilar  with  his  sword  and  shield,  Moreno 
with  a  sword  and  lance.  They  crossed  the  bog, 
and  a  strip  of  thickets  about  twenty  paces  wide, 
beyond  which  was  an  open  country  with  corn  fields. 
Scarce  had  they  advanced  two  hundred  paces, 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c  13. 

20* 


234  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

when  the  ever  watchful  Indians  sprang  out  upon 
them  from  their  lurking  places.  The  startling  war- 
cries  and  shouts  of  both  parties,  roused  the  soldiers 
who  were  reposing  quietly  in  the  village.  They 
took  not  time  to  cross  by  the  bridges,  but  dashed 
across  the  swamp  where  the  water  was  up  to  their 
breasts,  and  rushed  on  to  the  rescue.  It  was  too 
late  ;  the  Indians  had  disappeared  ;  and  the  five 
halberdiers  lay  stretched  lifeless  upon  the  ground, 
each  pierced  with  ten  or  twelve  arrows.  Moreno 
was  yet  alive,  but  transfixed  with  an  arrow,  barbed 
with  flint,  and  the  moment  it  was  extracted  from  his 
breast,  he  expired.  Aguilar,  who  was  a  hardy  sol 
dier,  more  robust  than  his  companions,  had  defend 
ed  himself  stoutly  ;  he  was  alive,  though  badly 
wounded  and  §adly  battered  about  the  head.  The 
Indians,  having  exhausted  all  their  arrows,  had  clos 
ed  with  him,  and  belaboured  him  with  their  bows. 
With  such  might  did  they  wield  them,  that  Agui- 
lar's  shield  was  shivered  in  pieces,  and  his  scull  laid 
bare. 

As  they  bore  him  back  to  the  encampment,  they 
inquired  as  to  the  numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  he 
declared  there  were  more  than  fifty,  which  he  said 
was  the  reason  why  his  party  had  been  so  suddenly 
defeated.  One  day  being  nearly  recovered  from 
his  wounds,  his  comrades  began  to  jeer  in  a  rough 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  235 

soldierlike  style,  asking  him  whether  he  had  counted 
the  blows  he  had  received,  and  if  they  had  hurt 
much.  "  I  counted  not  the  number  of  the  blows," 
replied  Aguilar  somewhat  crustily,  "  but  you  will, 
one  day  or  other,  receive  the  like,  and  then  you  will 
learn  whether  they  hurt  or  not."  Being  further 
bantered  on  the  subject,  he  broke  forth  in  testimony 
of  the  valour  and  generosity  of  the  Indian  warriors. 
"  You  must  know,"  said  he,  "  that  a  band  of  more 
than  fifty  savages  sprang  out  of  the  thickets  to  at 
tack  us  ;  the  moment,  however,  they  saw  that  we 
were  but  seven,  and  without  our  horses,  seven  war 
riors  stepped  forth  and  the  rest  retired  to  some  dis 
tance.  They  began  the  attack,  and  as  we  had  nei 
ther  arquebuss  nor  cross-bow,  we  were  entirely  at 
their  mercy.  Being  more  agile  and  fleet  of  foot 
than  our  men,  they  leaped  around  us  like  so  many 
devils,  with  horrid  laughter,  shooting  us  down  like 
wild  beasts,  without  our  being  able  to  close  with 
them.  My  poor  comrades  fell  one  after  the  other, 
and  the  savages  seeing  me  alone,  all  seven  rushed 
upon  me,  and  with  their  bows  battered  me  as  you 
witnessed.  I  concealed  all  this  before,  through  a 
sense  of  shame  ;  but  so  it  really  happened,  and  may 
it  serve  as  a  warning  to  you  all,  never  to  disobey  or- 
ders  and  sally  forth  in  like  careless  manner." 

The  story  of  honest  Aguilar  had  probably  receiv- 


236  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

ed  from  him  a  romantic  colouring  ;  yet,  such  in 
stances  of  magnanimity,  or  rather  bravado,  are  said 
to  have  been  common  among  the  warriors  of  Apa- 
lachee.  They  had  great  confidence  in  their  own 
courage,  strength,  and  dexterity,  considering  them 
selves  equal  if  not  superior  to  the  Spaniards,  when 
equally  armed,  and  when  the  latter  were  not  mount 
ed  on  their  horses :  at  such  times  they  would  often 
disdain  to  avail  themselves  of  superior  numbers. 


237 


CHAPTER  XL. 

Reception  of  the  Spaniards  by  the  natives  of  Atapa- 
ha.  Their  arrival  at  the  province  of  Co/a,  and 
what  happened  there. 

1540.  LEAVING  this  village,  the  army  in  two  days 
crossed  the  frontier  of  Apalachee,  and  entered  the 
province  of  Atapaha.*  It  was  the  custom  of  the 
Governor  on  entering  a  new  province,  to  lead  the 
way  himself,  and  see  every  thing  with  his  own  eyes, 
rather  than  trust  to  the  accounts  of  others.  He  ac 
cordingly  chose  forty  horse,  and  seventy  foot,  well 
armed,  with  shields,  arquebusses  and  cross-bows, 
and  penetrated  the  country  in  advance  of  his  army. 
On  the  morning  of  the  third  day,  they  came  in  sight 
of  the  village  of  Achese.  The  Indians  had  fled  to 
the  forests,  carrying  with  them  their  wives,  children, 
and  effects.  The  horsemen  dashing  into  the  village, 
made  six  prisoners,  two  of  whom  were  warriors 
that  had  remained  behind  to  remove  the  infirm. 

The  two  warriors  came  into  the  presence  of  the 

*  The  river  Atapapaha  may  derive  its  name  from  this  ancient 
province. 


238  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

Governor,  with  a  fearless  and  lofty  demeanour. 
"  What  seek  you  in  our  land  ?"  said  they,  not  wait 
ing  to  be  questioned,  "Peace  or  war?"  De  Soto 
replied  through  his  interpreter,  Juan  Ortiz,  "  we 
seek  not  war  with  any  one,  but  our  wish  is,  to  cul 
tivate  peace  and  friendship.  We  are  in  search  of 
a  distant  province,  and  all  we  ask  is  food  by  the 
road."  The  warriors  instantly  offered  to  supply  the 
wants  of  the  army.  They  sent  two  of  their  com 
panions  to  their  Cacique  to  relate  all  they  had  heard 
and  seen,  and  charged  them  to  warn  all  the  Indians 
they  should  meet,  that  the  Spaniards  carne  as 
friends,  and  were  to  be  received  and  aided  accor 
dingly.  On  the  departure  of  the  three  messengers, 
De  Soto  ordered  the  Indians  to  be  set  at  liberty, 
and  regaled  and  treated  as  friends. 

De  Soto,  being  rejoined  by  his  army,  reposed  for 
three  days  in  this  village,  and  then  resumed  his 
march  north-east,  ascending  for  ten  days  along  the 
banks  of  a  river,  skirted  by  groves  of  mulberry 
trees,  and  winding  through  luxuriantly  fertile  val 
leys.*  The  natives  were  peaceable  and  domestic  in 
their  habits,  and  never  broke  the  peace  which  they 
formed  with  the  Spaniards. 

On  the  eleventh  day  they  crossed  the  boundaries 

*  Supposed  to  bo  the  Flint  River. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  239 

of  Altapaha,  and  entered  the  province  of  Cofa,* 
having,  according  to  custom,  sent  messengers  in  ad 
vance  with  proffers  of  peace  to  the  Cacique.  This 
chieftain  in  reply,  sent  a  deputation  of  two  thousand 
Indians  to  De  Soto,  with  a  present  of  rabbits,  par 
tridges,  maize,  and  a  great  number  of  dogs.  The 
latter  were  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  Spaniards  ; 
for,  next  to  their  want  of  salt,  the  greatest  cause  of 
suffering  was  the  scarcity  of  meat.  Game  was 
abundant,  and  amply  furnished  the  natives  with 
food,  for  they  were  very  skilful  in  the  use  of  the 
bow  and  arrow,  and  very  expert  at  making  all  kinds 
of  traps.  The  Spaniards,  however,  being  constant 
ly  on  the  march,  had  no  time  for  hunting ;  and 
moreover,  dared  not  to  leave  their  ranks  for  fear  of 
falling  into  some  ambush  of  the  enemy. 

The  Cacique  of  Cofa  received  the  Spaniards 
with  a  generous  welcome,  giving  up  his  own  man 
sion  to  the  Governor,  and  providing  quarters  for  the 
army.  The  province  over  which  he  ruled  was  very 
fertile,  plentiful,  and  populous.  The  natives  were 

*  We  have  followed  the  Portuguese  Narrative  here,  as  the 
Inca's  is  evidently  in  error  in  making  the  Spaniards  enter  the 
Province  of  Achalaque,  (the  country  of  the  Cherokees)  at  so  early 
a  period.  This  tribe  dwelt  much  further  to  the  northward,  on  the 
skirts  of  the  Apalachian  Mountains,  and  was  not  reached  by  the 
Spaniards  until  a  month  afterwards.  The  Portuguese  historian 
calls  this  province  Ocute. 


240  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

peaceful  and  domestic  in  their  habits,  and  extremely 
affable.  They  treated  these  strangers  with  much 
kindness,  and  detained  them  five  days  with  their 
hospitality. 

The  Adelantado  had  brought  with  him,  thus  far, 
a  piece  of  ordnance,  but  finding  it  exceedingly  bur- 
thensome  and  of  little  use,  he  determined  to  leave 
it  with  the  Cacique.  That  the  natives  might  have 
some  idea  of  its  use,  he 'ordered  it  to  be  loaded,  and 
pointed  at  a  huge  oak  without  the  village.  In  two 
shots,  the  tree  was  laid  prostrate,  to  the  infinite 
amazement  of  the  Cacique  and  his  subjects. 

De  Soto  told  them  he  left  this  wonderful  machine, 
as  a  reward  for  their  friendship  and  kind  hospita 
lity  ;  to  be  taken  care  of  until  he  should  return  or 
send  for  it.  The  Cacique  and  his  warriors  were 
deeply  impressed  with  this  mark  of  confidence,  and 
promised  that  it  should  be  guarded  with  vigilant 
care. 

On  the  sixth  day,  the  army  resumed  their  march 
in  quest  of  the  adjoining  province  of  Cofaqui, 
whose  Cacique  was  an  elder  brother  of  Cofa's,  and 
was  much  more  opulent  and  powerful.  Cofa  and 
his  warriors  escorted  the  army  during  one  day's 
march,  and  would  have  continued  unto  the  frontier, 
but  the  Governor  would  not  give  his  assent.  The 
Cacique,  having  taken  an  affectionate  leave  of  the 


CONQUEST   OF   FLORIDA.  241 

Spaniards,  ordered  his  people  to  accompany  the 
strangers,  and  do  all  in  their  power  to  serve  them. 
At  the  same  time,  he  directed  a  chief  to  go  before, 
and  warn  his  brother  Cofaqui  of  the  approach  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  beseech  him  to  receive  them 
kindly.  The  Adelantado,  continued  his  march 
through  a  pleasant  and  luxuriant  country,  fertilized 
by  many  rivers,  and  inhabited  by  a  more  docile  and 
gentle  race,  than  any  he  had  yet  seen.  At  the  end 
of  six  days,  he  bid  adieu  to  the  territory  of  Cofa.* 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  13. 

21 


242 


CHAPTER  XLT. 

* 

Reception  of  the  army  by  the  Cacique.  Prepara 
tions  for  penetrating  to  the  province  of  Cofa- 
chiqui. 

1540.  THE  moment  the  Cacique  Cofaqui  receiv 
ed  the  message  of  his  brother,  he  despatched  four 
chieftains,  with  a  train  of  Indians,  to  welcome  the 
Spaniards  to  his  dominions. 

This  message  diffused  joy  throughout  the  whole 
army.  They  marched  cheerily  forward,  and  soon 
came  to  the  confines  of  Cofaqui,  where  they  dis 
missed  the  Indians  of  Cofa.  When  the  Cacique 
knew  by  his  scouts  that  the  Christians  were  near, 
he  went  out  to  receive  them  with  a  retinue  of  war 
riors,  richly  decorated,  carrying  their  bows  and  ar 
rows  in  their  hands,  withtall  plumes  upon  their  heads, 
and  over  their  shoulders  rich  mantles  of  martin  skin, 
finely  dressed.  Many  kind  words  were  exchanged, 
the  Indians  and  Spaniards  unsuspiciously  mingled 
together,  and  entered  the  village  with  joyous  shouts. 
The  Cacique  conducted  the  Governor  to  his  own 
house,  and  retired  himself  to  a  neighbouring  hamlet. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  243 

Early  the  next  morning  the  Cacique  came  to  visit 
De  Soto.  He  freely  imparted  every  information 
respecting  his  own  territory,  and  spoke  of  a  plenti 
ful  and  populous  province,  called  Cosa,  which  lay 
to  the  north-west.*  As  to  the  province  of  Cofachi- 
qui,  he  said  that  it  lay  contiguous  to  his  dominions, 
but  that  a  vast  wilderness  of  seven  days'  journey 
intervened. f  Should  the  Governor,  however,  per 
sist  in  seeking  it,  he  offered  to  send  a  band  of  his 
warriors  to  accompany  him,  and  promised  to  furnish 
him  with  all  necessary  supplies  for  the  journey. 
De  Soto  had  fixed  his  mind  too  intently  on  Cofa- 
chiqui  to  be  diverted  from  his  course,  and  signified 
his  intention  of  continuing  on.  Scouts  were  accord 
ingly  sent  out  in  every  direction,  to  assemble  the 
Indians,  and  in  four  days  the  village  was  thronged 
with  them.  Four  thousand  warriors  were  to  escort 
and  guide  the  Spaniards,  and  four  thousand  retain 
ers  to  carry  their  supplies  and  clothing.  The  chief 
articles  of  provisions,  were  maize,  dried  plums, 
grapes,  walnuts,  and  acorns ;  for  the  Indians  had  no 
domestic  animals,  and  depended  for  flesh  upon  the 
produce  of  the  chase. 

The  Spaniards,  seeing  themselves  surrounded  by 
such  a  multitude  of  Indians,  although  they  were  as- 

*  Portuguese  Relation,  c.  14. 

t  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  L.  3.  c.  4. 


244  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

sembled  for  their  service,  kept  a  vigilant  and  unre 
mitting  watch  by  day  and  by  night,  lest,  under  the 
guise  of  friendship,  they  should  attempt  their  de 
struction.  But  it  soon  appeared  that  these  troops 
were  destined  for  warfare  in  another  quarter. 

A  few  days  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  de 
parture  of  the  Spaniards,  the  General  and  his  offi 
cers  being  in  the  public  square,  the  Cacique  ordered 
his  chief  warrior  to  be  called.  "You  well  know," 
said  he  to  him,  "  that  a  perpetual  enmity  and  war 
fare  has  existed  between  our  fathers  and  the  Indians 
of  Cofachiqui.  That  bitter  hatred,  you  are  aware, 
has  not  abated  one  jot ;  the  deep  wrongs,  the  notori 
ous  injuries  we  have  suffered  from  that  vile  tribe  still 
rankles  in  our  hearts,  unrevenged  !  the  present  op 
portunity  must  not  be  lost ! 

You,  the  leader  of  my  warriors,  must  accompany 
this  Chief  and  his  braves,  under  their  protection  to 
wreak  vengeance  on  our  enemies  !  I  need  say  no 
more  to  you,  I  leave  our  cause  and  our  honour  in 
your  hands  !" 


245 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

Some  account  of  the  Chieftain  Patofa.     The  Indian 
boy  Pedro  has  a  marvellous  visitation. 

1540.  THE  Indian  leader,  whose  name  was  Pa 
tofa,  was  of  a  graceful  form  and  striking  features. 
His  expression  was  haughty  and  noble,  promising 
dauntless  courage  for  war,  and  gentleness  and  kind 
ness  in  peace.  His  whole  demeanour  showed  that 
the  Cacique  had  not  unwisely  bestowed  his  trust. 
He  arose,  and  throwing  aside  his  mantle  of  skin, 
seized  a  broadsword,  made  of  palmwood,  which  a 
servant  carried  behind  him,  as  a  badge  of  his  rank. 
He  cut  and  thrust  with  it,  as  skilfully  as  a  master  of 
fence,  much  to  the  admiration  of  the  Spaniards. 
After  going  through  many  singular  evolutions,  he 
stopped  suddenly  before  the  Cacique  and  made  a 
profound  reverence.  "  I  pledge  my  word,"  said  he, 
"  to  fulfil  your  commands  as  far  as  in  my  power ; 
and  I  promise,  by  the  favour  of  the  strangers,  to  re 
venge  the  insults,  the  deaths,  and  the  losses,  our  fa 
thers  have  sustained  from  the  natives  of  Cofachiqui. 
My  vengeance  shall  be  such,  that  the  memory  of 
21* 


246  CONQUEST  or  FLORIDA. 

past  evils  shall  be  wiped  away  for  ever.  My  daring 
to  reappear  in  your  presence,  will  be  a  token  that 
your  commands  have  been  executed.  For,  should 
the  fates  deny  my  hopes,  never  again  shall  you  be 
hold  me,  never  again  shall  the  sun  shine  upon  me  ! 
If  the  enemy  deny  me  death,  my  own  hand  will  find 
the  road !  1  will  inflict  upon  myself  the  punish 
ment  my  cowardice  or  evil  fortune  will  merit  !" 

The  Cacique  Cofaqui  arose  and  embraced  him. 
"  I  consider,"  replied  he,  "  that  what  you  have  pro 
mised  is  as  certain  as  though  it  were  already  ac 
complished,  therefore  do  I  reward  you,  as  for  ser 
vices  already  rendered."  Saying  this,  he  took  from 
his  shoulders  a  mantle  of  the  most  beautiful  martin 
skins,  and  placed  it,  with  his  own  hand,  upon  the 
shoulders  of  Patofa.  A  present  of  a  mantle  or 
plume,  or  any  other  article  of  dress,  was  considered 
by  the  natives  of  this  country,  as  the  greatest  honour 
their  chief  could  confer  upon  them,  more  especially 
when  presented  in  person.* 

A  singular  event  happened  the  night  before  the 
departure  of  the  army.  One  of  the  two  boys  taken 
prisoner  in  the  province  of  Apalachee,  had  guided 
them  thus  far.  The  other,  whom  they  named  Pedro, 
was  to  conduct  them  from  thence  to  the  dominions 

*  Garcilaso  cle  la  Vega,  L.  3.  o.  5. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  247 

of  Cofachiqui,  where  they  expected  to  find  gold,  sil 
ver,  and  precious  stones.  About  the  mid  watch, 
this  youth  woke  the  soldiery  with  his  screams  of 
murder,  and  calls  for  help.  The  alarm  spread 
throughout  the  encampment ;  they  dreaded  some 
treachery  of  the  Indians  ;  the  trumpets  sounded  to 
arms  ;  all  was  tumult ;  they  buckled  on  their  ar 
mour,  seized  their  weapons,  and  prepared  for  ac 
tion.  When  it  was  discovered  that  no  enemy  was 
at  hand,  an  inquiry  was  made  whence  the  alarm 
had  proceeded.  They  found  the  Indian  boy  Pedro, 
half  dead,  trembling  with  fear  and  terror,  and  foam 
ing  at  the  mouth  like  a  maniac.  When  they 
asked  him  why  he  had  called  for  help  with  such 
strange  outcries,  he  said,  that  a  demon  with  a  huge 
visage,  accompanied  by  frightful  imps,  had  appear 
ed  to  him,  and  forbidden  him,  under  pain  of  death, 
to  guide  the  Spaniards  to  the  land  he  had  promised  ; 
at  the  same  time  they  had  dragged  him  out  of  his 
hut  and  beat  him,  until  he  was  so  bruised  and  weak 
ened  that  he  could  not  move.  He  added,  that  the 
demon  seeing  the  Christians  approach,  had  vanished 
with  all  his  imps — he  knew  from  this,  that  the  devils 
feared  the  Christians,  and  he  begged  they  would 
baptize  him  immediately,  lest  the  demon  should  re 
turn  and  kill  him. 

The  Spaniards  were  prcplexcd   by  this  story, 


248  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

which  seemed  to  be  corroborated  by  the  contusions 
and  swellings  on  the  boy's  face  and  body.  The 
priests,  being  called  in,  baptized  him,  and  remained 
with  him  during  this  night  and  the  following  day,  to 
confirm  him  in  the  faith.*  As  the  boy  proved  to 
be  an  elaborate  liar  on  various  occasions,  the  fore* 
going  tale  may  be  considered  a  marvel  of  his  own 
invention.  The  Cacique  accompanied  the  army 
two  leagues  on  their  march,  when,  charging  Patofa 
anew,  faithfully  to  serve  the  Spaniards,  he  took  an 
affectionate  leave  and  returned  to  his  home. 

*  The  Portuguese  narrator  says  the  gospel  was  read  over  him 
and  he  recovered. 


249 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

The  desertion  of  an  Indian,  and  how  he  was  punish 
ed.     The  army  lost  in  a  trackless  wilderness. 

1540.  THE  Spaniards  marched  by  themselves, 
formed  into  squadrons,  with  a  van  and  rear 
guard.  Patofa  and  his  four  thousand  warriors^ 
marched  in  like  order,  with  the  Indians  who  car 
ried  the  provisions  in  the  centre  ;  for,  the  natives 
sought  eagerly  to  rival  the  white  men  in  every  thing 
relating  to  the  art  of  war. 

By  night,  likewise,  they  lodged  separately,  and  as 
soon  as  the  Indians  who  carried  the  supplies  had 
delivered  up  the  provisions  to  the  Spaniards,  they 
went  away  and  slept  with  their  companions.  Both 
armies  posted  their  sentinels,  and  they  watched 
each  other,  as  though  they  were  enemies.  The 
Spaniards  were  particularly  vigilant ;  for,  seeing 
the  order  and  regularity  observed  by  the  Infidels, 
they  mistrusted  them.  The  latter,  however,  were 
entirely  free  from  any  evil  designs,  and  rather 
manifested  a  desire  to  please  the  strangers  in 
every  thing.  The  stationing  of  sentinels  and 


250  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

other  camp  forms  observed  by  them,  \vere  more 
to  prove  themselves  men  accustomed  to  war, 
than  through  any  doubts  of  the  Spaniards.  These 
precautions  they  observed  the  whole  time  they 
were  together.  The  second  night  of  their  inarch, 
they  slept  at  the  commencement  of  an  extensive 
uninhabited  tract  lying  between  the  provinces  of 
Cofaqui  and  Cofachiqui. 

The  country  upon  which  they  now  entered, 
though  deserted,  was  pleasant,  diversified  with  easy 
hills,  open  forests,  and  frequent  streams. 

On  the  fourth  day  an  Indian  deserted,  and  made 
off  in  the  direction  of  his  home.  Patofa  immedi 
ately  sent  four  young  warriors  in  pursuit  of  him, 
with  orders  to  bring  him  back  manacled.  They  set 
off  with  the  swiftness  of  deer,  and  soon  returned, 
bringing  him  prisoner.  Patofa  ordered  him  to  be 
led  to  the  banks  of  a  small  stream  that  flowed 
through  the  encampment.  Here  he  was  stripped 
and  commanded  to  throw  himself  upon  the  ground 
and  drink  the  streamlet  dry.  The  poor  culprit 
drank  until  he  could  no  more,  but  the  moment  he 
raised  his  head  from  the  stream,  five  Indians  who 
were  posted  over  him,  with  clubs  in  their  hands, 
belaboured  him  cruelly  until  he  resumed  his  task. 
Some  of  his  comrades  hastened  to  the  Governor, 
and  implored  him  to  intercede  with  Patofa,  or  the 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  251 

poor  wretch  would  be  compelled  to  drink  until  he 
died.  The  intercessions  of  the  Governor  were  ef 
fectual  ;  the  prisoner  was  released,  but  was  half 
dead  with  the  quantity  of  water  he  had  been  forced 
to  swallow. 

In  the  course  of  their  march  through  this  unpeo 
pled  tract  of  country,  they  came  to  two  rivers, 
a  cross-bow  shot  broad,  and  so  deep  and  rapid, 
that  the  infantry  could  not  maintain  their  footing. 
They  made,  therefore,  a  kind  of  dam  by  placing 
their  horses  side  by  side  across  the  stream,  to 
break  its  fury,  until  the  -foot  soldiers  and  Indians 
had  forded  it. 

About  noon  on  the  seventh  day,  their  march  was 
arrested,  and  the  whole  army  thrown  into  confusion 
by  the  sudden  termination  of  the  broad  road  which 
they  had  followed  thus  far.  They  pursued  many 
narrow  winding  paths  leading  into  dense  and 
tangled  forests.  These  after  being  followed  for  a 
short  distance  would  likewise  entirely  disappear. 

Their  Indian  allies  were  here  quite  as  much  at 
loss,  not  one  of  them  being  able  to  point  out  the 
proper  path.  De  Soto  then  ordered  Patofa  into  his 
presence.  "  Why,"  said  he  to  him,  "  have  you  un 
der  the  mask  of  friendship  led  us  into  this  wilder 
ness,  from  whence  we  can  discover  no  way  of  ex 
tricating  ourselves?  I  will  never  believe,  that  among 


252  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA 

eight  thousand  Indians,  there  is  not  one  to  be  found 
capable  of  showing  us  the  way  to  Cofachiqui.  It 
is  not  at  all  likely  that  you,  who  have  maintained 
perpetual  war  writh  that  tribe,  should  know  nothing 
of  the  public  road  and  secret  paths  leading  from 
one  village  to  another." 

Patofa  replied  to  this  by  assurances  that  neither 
he  nor  any  of  his  followers  had  ever  been  in  this 
place  before.  "  The  wars,"  said  he,  "  which  have 
been  waged  between  these  two  provinces,  have 
not  been  carried  on  by  pitched  battles,  nor  inva 
sions  of  either  party;  but  by  skirmishes  between 
small  bands,  who  resort  to  the  streams  and  rivers 
we  have  crossed,  to  fish  ;  and  also  by  combats  be 
tween  hunting  parties  ;  as  the  wilderness  we  have 
traversed,  is  the  common  hunting  ground  of  both 
nations.  The  natives  of  Cofachiqui  are  more  pow 
erful  and  have  always  worsted  us  in  fight ;  our  peo 
ple,  therefore,  were  dispirited  and  dared  not  to  pass 
over  their  own  frontiers.  Do  you  suspect  that  I 
have  led  your  army  into  these  deserts  to  perish?  If  so, 
take  what  hostages  you  please.  If  my  he^d  will  suf 
fice,  take  it — if  not,  you  may  behead  every  Indian, 
as  they  will  obey  my  mandate  even  to  tnV  death.''* 

The   frank   and  feeling  manner  in  which  these 

*  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  Lib.  3.  c.  0. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  258 

words  were  delivered,  convinced  the  Governor  of 
Patofa's  truth  and  trustworthiness.  He  then  called 
to  him  Pedro,  the  Indian  boy  who  had  guided  them 
thus  far,  with  such  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  coun 
try,  that  the  evening  previous,  he  had  pointed  out 
exactly  where  they  would  find  the  road  on  the  fol 
lowing  morning.  De  Soto  threatened  to  throw  him 
to  the  dogs  for  thus  deceiving  him.  The  poor  boy, 
however,  appeared  to  be  really  bewildered,  and 
seemed  to  have  suddenly  lost  all  his  former  sagaci 
ty  ;  he  said  it  was  four  or  five  years  since  he  had 
travelled  through  the  wilderness,  and  he  could  not 
now  tell  where  they  were. 

They  resumed  their  inarch,  wandering  through 
the  glades  and  openings  of  the  forests,  and  at  sun 
set  were  arrested  by  a  wide,  deep,  and  unfordable 
river.  This  sight  filled  them  with  dismay.  They 
had  neither  rafts  nor  canoes  with  which  to  cross 
the  stream,  nor  food  to  keep  them  alive,  while  these 
were  being  constructed.  Their  provisions  were 
consumed,  as  they  had  only  brought  supplies  for  the 
seven  days,  which  it  had  been  computed  they  would 
take  to  traverse  the  desert.  The  road  lost,  without 
a  guide,  without  food,  before  them  a  deep  impassa 
ble  river,  behind  them  an  uninhabited  wilderness, 
and  on  each  side  a  trackless  forest !  Their  situation 
was  indeed  dreary  and  disheartening. 
22 


I 


254 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Parties  despatched  in  different  directions  to  seek 
some  outlet  to  this  wilderness.  Sufferings  of  the 
army  for  want  of  food.  Success  of  Juan  de  Arias- 
co's  expedition. 

1540.  THE  Governor  left  the  army  encamped 
in  a  grove  of  pine  trees,  and,  taking  a  guide  and 
a  detachment  of  horse  and  foot,  struck  into  the 
depths  of  the  forest.  He  returned  late  in  the  even 
ing,  greatly  perplexed  and  troubled,  having  pene 
trated  five  or  six  leagues  into  the  wilderness  with 
out  discovering  any  signs  that  the  country  was  in 
habited. 

Early  the  following  morning  he  called  a  council 
of  his  officers,  to  consider  the  critical  situation  of 
the  army,  and  decide  whether  they  should  turn  in 
another  direction  or  retrace  their  steps.  Their 
supplies  of  maize  were  exhausted  ;  both  horse  and 
rider  were  way-worn,  dispirited,  and  enfeebled, 
for  the  want  of  food,  and  it  was  extremely  doubtful 
whether  they  would  be  able  to  reach  a  place  of 
refreshment ;  moreover,  the  Indians  taking  advan- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  255 

tage  of  their  weakened  condition,  might  assail 
them,  so  that  their  return  would  probably  be  in  the 
face  of  both  war  and  famine.  It  was  resolved, 
therefore,  not  to  move  their  encampment,  until 
some  road  or  outlet  from  this  wilderness  should  be 
discovered.  The  Governor  then  despatched  par 
ties  of  troopers  in  every  direction,  to  seek  for 
some  habitation.  These  returned  at  night-fall,  some 
leading  their  wearied  horses  by  the  bridle,  others 
driving  them  before  them,  having  discovered  neither 
road  nor  human  dwelling.*  De  Soto  then  ordered 
four  bands  of  horse  and  two  of  foot,  to  start,  two 
up  the  course  of  the  river,  and  two  down  it ;  one 
party  keeping  along  the  bank,  and  the  other  a  league 
inland,  in  hopes  that  one  or  the  other  would  find  a 
road  or  an  inhabited  place.  He  directed  each  of 
the  Captains  to  return  in  five  days. 

Captain  Juan  de  Afiasco,  who  commanded  one 
of  the  detachments,  was  accompanied  by  Patofa, 
who  was  unwilling  to  remain  in  the  camp,  and  the 
Indian  boy,  Pedro,  who,  abashed  at  having  lost  the 
road,  thought  that  by  going  on  this  expedition  he 
might  succeed  in  redeeming  his  character.  With 
each  company  of  Spaniards  went  a  thousand  In 
dian  warriors,  who  scattered  themselves  about  the 
forests  to  seek  for  a  road. 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  14. 


256  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

The  Governor  remained  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
waiting  their  return,  where  he  and  his  people  suf 
fered  great  distress  for  want  of  food  ;  having  little 
to  eat  excepting  the  tendrils  of  wild  vines,  which 
they  found  in  the  woods.  The  four  thousand  In 
dians  who  remained  with  him  sallied  out  every 
morning  and  returned  at  night,  some  with  herbs 
and  roots  that  were  eatable,  others  with  fish,  and 
others  again  with  birds  and  small  animals  they  had 
killed  with  their  bows  and  arrows.  All  of  these 
they  brought  to  the  army,  and  although  they  were 
exhausted  and  almost  famished  themselves,  yet  such 
was  their  fidelity  and  respect,  that  they  tasted  no 
thing  until  they  had  first  presented  what  they  had 
to  the  Spaniards.  The  hardy  soldiers  were  touch 
ed  by  this  generosity  of  spirit,  and  gave  the  Indians 
the  greater  part  of  the  food  they  brought.  These 
supplies,  however,  were  by  no  means  sufficient  for 
the  subsistence  of  such  a  multitude. 

During  three  days  the  army  suffered  extreme 
privations.  The  Governor  finding  they  could  no 
longer  endure  this  excess  of  hunger,  ordered  some 
of  the  hogs  which  they  had  brought  with  them  for 
the  breed  to  be  killed,  and  half  a  pound  of  meat 
was  portioned  out  to  each  Spaniard  ;  which,  how 
ever,  rather  served  to  augment  than  to  allay  the 
hunger  of  half  famished  men.  But  notwithstanding 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  257 

their  pressing  wants,  they  generously  divided  their 
pittance  with  the  poor  savages,  whose  necessities 
were  equally  great. 

De  Soto  fared  equally  with  his  men  in  every 
respect ;  and  though  troubled  and  anxious  for  the 
fate  of  his  great  expedition,  he  wore  a  sunny  coun 
tenance  to  cheer  up  his  followers.  These  chival 
rous  spirits  appreciated  his  care  and  kindness,  and 
to  solace  him,  they  concealed  their  sufferings,  as 
sumed  an  air  of  contentedness,  and  appeared  as 
happy  as  though  they  were  revelling  in  abundance. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  four  Captains  who  went 
in  search  of  a  road,  suffered  no  less  from  hunger 
than  the  Governor  and  his  army.  Juan  de  Anasco 
having  travelled  three  days  along  the  river,  came 
to  a  small  village  seated  on  its  banks.*  Here  he 
found  few  natives,  but  a  great  supply  of  food ;  in 
one  house  alone  were  deposited  five  hundred  mea 
sures  of  meal,  formed  from  toasted  maize,  beside 
much  more  in  grain.  The  joy  of  both  Indians  and 
Spaniards  can  easily  be  imagined.  After  having 
searched  the  houses,  they  ascended  into  the  high 
est,  from  which  they  could  see  that  further  on,  the 
country  was  studded  with  villages  and  hamlets, 

*  The  Portuguese  Narrator  says  the  Indians  called  this  hamlet 
Aymay;  and  the  Spaniards  gave  it  the  name  of  tho  "  Village  of 

Good  Relief." 

22* 


258  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

with  extensive  corn-fields  on  eveiy  side.  They 
here  quelled  the  cravings  of  hunger.  After  mid 
night  they  despatched  four  horsemen  to  the  Gov 
ernor  with  tidings  of  their  success.  They  took  with 
them  many  ears  of  corn,  and  several  horns  of  the 
buffalo  or  bison,  The  sight  of  the  latter  perplexed 
the  Spaniards,  who  conjectured  them  to  be  the 
horns  of  tame  cattle.  Several  times  in  the  course 
of  their  expedition,  they  had  found  fresh  beef,  and 
had  importuned  the  Indians  to  tell  them  where  they 
kept  their  herds.  They  could  never  get  any  satis 
factory  information  from  them  on  the  subject,  and 
supposed  that  they  purposely  concealed  the  truth. 

Patofa  and  his  Indians  this  night  stole  stealthily 
out  of  the  camp,  so  as  not  to  alarm  the  Spaniards, 
and  sacked  and  pillaged  the  temple.  They  mas 
sacred  every  Indian  they  found  within  and  in  the 
purlieus  of  the  village,  sparing  neither  sex  nor  age, 
and  taking  their  scalps  as  trophies,  to  show  their 
Cacique,  Cofaqui ;  for  it  was  afterwards  discov 
ered  that  this  village  was  in  the  long  wished  for 
province  of  Cofachiqui. 

On  the  following  day  at  noon,  Afiasco  set  for 
ward  to  meet  the  Governor,  not  daring  to  await  his 
arrival  in  the  village,  fearing  a  general  assault  from 
the  natives,  in  revenge  of  the  massacre  of  Patofa. 


259 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

The  half  famished  army  revived  by  the  tidings  of 
Anasco's  discovery  of  an  abundant  region.  The 
ravages  committed  by  Patofa  and  his  warriors. 
De  Soto's  reception  by  the  beautiful  Princess  of 
Cofachiqui. 

1540.  THE  four  horsemen  who  had  been  sent 
as  messengers,  pushed  on  at  a  rapid  pace,  and 
reached  the  army  in  one  day  ;  a  distance  of  twelve 
leagues,  which  they  had  previously  spent  three 
days  in  traversing.  The  news  they  brought  diffused 
new  life  among  the  troops,  and  they  were  as  wild 
with  joy  as  if  they  had  been  rescued  from  the  jaws 
of  death.  When  morning  dawned,  De  Soto  order 
ed  the  four  troopers  to  lead  on  to  the  village  they 
had  discovered.  Before  decamping,  however,  they 
buried  a  letter  at  the  root  of  a  tree,  and  cut  upon 
the  bark  these  words  :  "  Dig  at  the  root  of  this  pine, 
and  you  will  find  a  letter."  This  was  to  make 
known  to  the  other  Captains,  who  were  seeking  a 
road,  the  direction  the  army  had  taken.* 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  14. 


260  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

The  idea  of  plenty  of  food  revived  the  half  fam 
ished  troops:  they  clapped  spurs  to  their  steeds, 
and  rode  helter  skelter  through  the  forest,  each  one 
striving  to  pass  the  other ;  so  that  before  noon  on 
the  following  day  they  were  all  within  the  village. 
Here  the  Governor  concluded  to  halt  for  some 
days,  that  his  men  might  recruit,  after  their  late 
privations  and  fatigue,  and  likewise  to  await  the 
arrival  of  the  three  other  Captains,  who  had  been 
sent  in  quest  of  a  road. 

These  three  Captains  had  the  good  fortune  to 
find  the  letter  of  their  comrades,  and  with  their  dif 
ferent  detachments  rejoined  the  main  body  in  the 
course  of  four  days,  almost  famished ;  having,  du 
ring  these  eight  days  absence,  had  nothing  to  eat 
but  a  scant  supply  of  roots  and  herbs. 

De  Soto  sojourned  in  this  frontier  village  of  the 
province  of  Cofachiqui  seven  days ;  during  which 
time  Patofa  and  his  warriors  were  not  idle,  but  sal 
lying  forth  stealthily,  ravaged  the  country  for  leagues 
round  about,  slaying  and  scalping  man,  woman,  and 
child,  sacking  and  pillaging  villages  and  hamlets, 
temples  and  sepulchres,  and  refraining  only  from 
setting  fire  to  them,  through  the  fear  that  the  flames 
might  betray  their  doings  to  the  Spaniards. 

When  De  Soto  heard  of  this  cruel  ravage,  he 
made  all  haste  to  get  rid  of  his  bloody  allies.  Send 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  261 

ing  for  Patofa,  he  thanked  him  for  his  friendly  con 
duct  and  valuable  escort ;  and  giving  him  presents 
of  knives,  trinkets,  and  clothing,  for  himself  and 
bis  Cacique,  dismissed  him  and  his  followers. 

The  savage  warrior  set  off  on  his  return,  well 
pleased  with  the  presents,  but  still  more  gratified  at 
having  fulfilled  the  vow  of  vengeance  which  he  had 
made  to  his  chieftain. 

Two  days  after  the  departure  of  Patofa,  the  Span 
iards  resumed  their  march  along  the  banks  of  the 
river.  They  met  with  no  living  thing,  but  with  dis 
mal  proofs  of  the  dreadful  carnage  Patofa  had 
committed.  All  along,  the  way  was  strown  with 
the  scalpless  corses  of  the  slain.  The  natives  had 
fled  into  the  interior  of  the  country,  leaving  a  plen 
tiful  supply  of  provisions  in  the  villages. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day,  the  army  halt 
ed  in  a  verdant  region,  covered  with  mulberry  and 
other  fruit  trees,  laden  with  fruit.  The  Governor 
was  unwilling  to  advance  until  he  learnt  what  pro 
vince  he  was  in.  He  ordered  Juan  de  Anasco, 
therefore,  with  thirty  foot  soldiers,  to  pursue  the 
road  they  had  thus  far  followed,  and  endeavour  to 
capture  some  Indians,  from  whom  they  might  ob 
tain  information,  and  who  might  serve  as  guides.  To 
encourage  the  doughty  Anasco,  he  told  him  he  sent 
him  in  preference  to  any  other,  because  he  was  al 
ways  successful. 


262  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

Anasco  and  his  thirty  comrades  left  the  camp  on 
foot,  before  night-fall.  They  marched  along  in  pro 
found  silence,  with  the  noiseless  pace  and  watchful 
eye  of  a  marauding  party.  As  they  advanced  the 
road  grew  wider.  They  had  proceeded  nearly  two 
leagues  without  seeing  a  living  thing,  when  on  the 
still  night  breeze,  was  borne  a  low,  murmuring  sound, 
like  the  near  hum  of  a  village.  As  they  moved 
breathlessly  forward,  the  sounds  grew  more  distinct; 
at  length  they  emerged  from  the  thickets  which  had 
obstructed  their  view,  and  saw  lights  and  heard  the 
barking  of  dogs,  the  cries  of  children,  and  the  voices 
of  men  and  women.  Certain  that  a  village  was 
near  at  hand,  they  rushed  forward  to  seize  some  In 
dians  secretly  in  the  suburbs,  each  striving  to  be 
first,  to  have  the  honour  of  being  the  most  diligent. 
They  were,  however,  deceived  in  their  hopes,  for 
the  river  which  they  had  followed  flowed  between 
them  and  the  village.  They  halted  a  long  while  on 
the  opposite  bank,  at  what  appeared  to  be  a  land 
ing  place  for  canoes,  and  having  supped,  and  re 
posed  until  two  o'clock  at  night,  they  set  off  for  the 
camp,  where  they  arrived  a  little  before  daybreak, 
and  related  to  the  Governor  what  they  had  seen  and 
heard. 

When  the  day  dawned  De  Soto  set  out  with  a 
hundred  infantry,  and  a  hundred  horse  to  recon- 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  263 

noitre  the  village.  Arrived  on  the  opposite  bank, 
Juan  Ortiz  arid  Pedro,  the  Indian  boy,  shouted  out 
to  the  natives  to  come  over,  and  receive  a  message 
for  their  Cacique. 

The  Indians,  terrified  at  the  strange  sight  of  the 
Spaniards  and  their  horses,  ran  back  to  the  village 
to  spread  the  news.  In  a  little  while  a  large  canoe 
was  launched,  and  came  directly  across  the  river, 
managed  by  several  rowers.  Six  Indians,  of  noble 
appearance,  all  about  forty  or  fifty  years  of  age, 
landed  from  it. 

The  Governor,  perceiving  they  were  persons  of 
consequence,  received  them  with  much  ceremony, 
seated  in  a  kind  of  chair  of  state,  which  he  always 
carried  with  him  for  occasions  of  the  kind.  As  they 
advanced  they  made  three  profound  reverences, 
one  to  the  sun,  with  their  faces  to  the  eastward,  the 
second  to  the  moon,  turning  to  the  west,  the  third  to 
the  Governor.  They  then  made  him  the  usual  de 
mand,  "  whether  he  came  for  peace  or  war  ?"  He 
replied.  Peace  ;  and  a  free  passage  through  their 
lands.  He  moreover  requested  provisions  for  his 
people,  and  assistance  with  canoes  or  rafts  in  pas 
sing  the  river. 

The  Indians  replied  that  their  supplies  were  small, 
the  country  having  been  ravaged  by  pestilence  in 
the  preceding  year,  so  that  most  of  the  people  had 


264  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

abandoned  their  houses  and  villages,  and  taken  re 
fuge  in  the  woods,  neglecting  to  sow  their  corn. 
They  added  that  they  were  governed  by  a  young 
female,  just  of  marriageable  age,  who  had  recently 
inherited  the  sway.  They  would  return  and  repeat 
to  her  the  circumstances  of  their  interview,  and 
made  no  doubt,  from  her  discreet  and  generous  na 
ture,  she  would  do  every  thing  in  her  power  to  serve 
the  strangers.  With  these  words  they  departed. 

They  had  not  long  returned  to  the  village  when 
the  Spaniards  perceived  movements  of  preparation, 
and  observed  a  kind  of  litter  borne  by  four  men  to 
the  water's  side.  From  this  alighted  the  female 
Cacique,  and  entered  a  highly  decorated  canoe, 
which  had  been  prepared  for  her  reception.  A 
kind  of  aquatic  procession  was  then  formed  ;  a 
grand  canoe,  containing  the  six  ambassadors,  and 
paddled  by  a  large  number  of  Indians,  led  the  van, 
lowing  after  it  the  state  bark  of  the  princess,  who 
reclined  on  cushions  in  the  stern,  under  a  canopy 
supported  by  a  lance.  She  was  accompanied  by 
eight  female  attendants.  A  number  of  canoes  filled 
with  warriors  closed  the  procession.* 

"*  The  account  of  this  Princess  and  her  territory,  is  taken  both 
from  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  account.  The  former  is  by  far 
the  most  ample  and  circumstantial  ;  though  evidently  inclining 
to  magnify  the  importance  of  the  princess  and  her  dominions. 


CONQUEST   OF   FLORIDA.  265 

The  young  princess  stepped  on  shore,  and  as  she 
approached  the  Spaniards,  they  were  struck  with 
her  appearance.  She  was  finely  formed,  with  great 
beauty  of  countenance,  and  native  grace  and  digni 
ty.  Having  made  her  obeisance  to  the  Governor, 
she  took  her  seat  on  a  kind  of  stool  placed  by  her 
attendants,  and  entered  into  conversation  with  him, 
all  her  subjects  preserving  a  most  respectful  silence. 

Her  conversation  confirmed  what  had  been  said 
by  the  ambassadors.  The  province  had  been  ra 
vaged  by  pestilence,  during  the  preceding  year,  and 
provisions  were  very  scanty.  She  offered,  how 
ever,  to  share  with  the  strangers  a  quantity  of 
maize  which  had  been  collected  for  the  relief  of  her 
village,  and  to  put  them  in  the  way  of  getting  simi 
lar  supplies  from  the  other  villages.  She  proffered, 
likewise,  her  own  house  for  the  accomodation  of  the 
Governor,  and  half  of  the  village  for  that  of  his  offi 
cers  and  principal  soldiers  ;  and  promised  that  wig 
wams  of  bark  and  branches  should  be  put  up  for 
the  rest.  She  added,  that  rafts  and  canoes  should 
be  provided  for  the  army  to  cross  the  river  on  the 
following  day.  De  Soto  was  overpowered  by  the 
generosity  of  the  princess,  and  endeavoured  in  the 
best  manner,  to  express  his  sense  of  her  kind  and 
hospitable  offers,  assuring  her  of  the  constant 
friendship  of  his  sovereign  and  himself.  The  cava- 
23 


266  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

liers,  too,  listened  with  admiring  attention  to  her  dis 
course,  and  to  the  answers  she  gave  to  various  en 
quiries  concerning  her  province  ;  leaving  them  as 
much  charmed  with  her  intelligence  and  judgment 
as  they  had  been  with  her  beauty,  and  wondering 
to  find  such  dignity  and  grace,  and  true  politeness 
in  a  savage  brought  up  in  a  wilderness. 

While  the  princess  of  Cofachiqui  was  conversing 
with  the  Governor,  she  was  slowly  disengaging  a 
string  of  large  pearls,  which  passed  three  times 
round  her  neck,  and  descended  to  her  waist.  The 
conference  ended,  she  told  Juan  Ortiz,  the  interpre 
ter,  to  present  the  necklace  to  the  general.  Ortiz 
replied,  that  the  gift  would  be  more  valuable  if  pre 
sented  with  her  own  hand  ;  but  she  scrupled  to  do 
it,  through  a  dread  of  infringing  the  propriety  which 
females  should  always  maintain.  When  De  Soto 
was  apprised  of  her  scruples,  he  directed  Ortiz  to 
tell  her,  that  he  would  more  highly  prize  the  favour 
of  receiving  the  gift  from  her  own  hand,  than  he 
would  value  the  jewel  itself,  and  that  she  would 
commit  no  breach  of  decorum,  as  they  were  persons 
unknown  to  each  other,  treating  of  peace  and  amity. 

This  being  interpreted  to  her,  she  arose,  and 
placed  the  string  of  pearls  about  the  neck  of  De  So- 

*  Portuguese  Narrative,  c.  14.  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  L.  3, 
c.  11. 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  267 

to  ;*  he  likewise  stood  up  ;  and,  taking  from  his  fin 
ger  a  ring  of  gold,  set  with  a  ruby,  presented  it  to 
her,  as  a  token  of  peace  and  friendship.  She  re 
ceived  it  very  respectfully  and  placed  it  on  one  of 
her  fingers.  This  ceremony  ended,  she  returned  to 
her  village,  leaving  the  Spaniards  much  struck  with 
her  native  talent,  and  personal  beauty.* 


*  According  to  the  Portuguese  Narrator,  the  Indians  in  this  in 
terview,  assured  the  Spaniards  that  their  province  was  but  two 
days  journey  from  the  sea  coast;  but,  subsequent  circumstances 
gave  reason  to  believe,  either  that  the  information  was  incorrect  in 
itself,  or  was  erroneously  rendered  by  the  interpreters. 


268 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

The  army  quartered  in  the  village  of  the  young  prin 
cess.  Anasco  despatched  after  a  certain  rich  wi 
dow.  Some  account  of  the  young  warrior  by  whom 
he  was  guided. 

1540.  ON  the  following  day,  the  Indians  having 
constructed  large  rafts,  and  brought  a  number  of 
canoes,  the  army  crossed  the  river.  The  passage 
was  not,  however,  effected  without  accident.  Seve 
ral  of  the  horses,  urged  by  their  riders  into  the 
stream,  were  carried  down  the  current,  amid  quick 
sands  and  whirlpools,  and  four  of  them  were  unfor 
tunately  drowned.  Their  loss  was  as  much  la 
mented  by  the  Spaniards,  as  though  they  had  been 
brothers  in  arms. 

When  the  army  had  all  crossed,  they  were  lodg 
ed  partly  in  wigwams,  under  the  shade  of  luxuriant 
mulberry  trees,  with  which  the  province  abounded. 
Around  about  the  village  were  scattered  many  for 
saken  wigwams  ;  the  rank  grass  growing  within, 
as  if  they  had  long  been  untenanted.  A  token  that 
the  pestilence  had,  indeed,  passed  over  them. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  269 

The  province  of  Cofachiqui,  as  well  as  the  neigh 
bouring  provinces  of  Cofaqui,  and  Cofa,  are  repre 
sented  as  being  extremely  populous  and  fertile. 
The  natives  were  of  a  tawny  complexion ;  well 
formed  ;  frank,  gentle  and  sincere  in  their  disposi 
tions,  and  less  warlike  than  any  of  the  tribes  among 
which  the  Spaniards  had  sojourned. 

They  had  their  wars,  however,  with  their  neigh 
bours,  and  had  many  captives  among  them,  whom 
they  employed  in  cultivating  the  fields  and  other 
servile  labour.  To  prevent  their  escape  and  return 
to  their  own  tribes,  they  were  maimed  by  having  the 
nerves  of  the  leg  cut  above  the  heel  or  the  instep. 

In  the  course  of  his  various  enquiries  about  the 
affairs  of  the  province,  De  Soto  learnt  that  the  mo 
ther  of  the  princess  was  still  living,  a  widow,  at  a 
retired  place,  about  twelve  leagues  down  the  river. 
He  felt  a  strong  desire  to  see  her,  wishing  thorough 
ly  to  secure  the  friendship  of  the  people  of  this  pro 
vince.  His  desire  was  probably  quickened  by  learn 
ing  that  the  queen  mother  had  in  her  possession,  a 
large  quantity  of  pearls. 

On  making  known  his  wishes  to  the  princess,  she 
immediately  despatched  twelve  of  her  principal 
subjects  to  her  mother,  to  entreat  her  to  come  and 
behold  these  wonderful  people,  and  the  strange  ani 
mals  they  had  brought  with  them. 
23* 


270  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

The  queen  mother,  however,  refused  to  accom 
pany  the  messengers,  and  expressed  herself  scanda 
lized  at  what  she  termed  the  levity  of  her  daughter, 
in  so  readily  shewing  herself  to  strangers  whom  she 
had  never  before  seen.  She  rebuked  the  envoys 
for  having  permitted  such  a  departure  from  her  pro 
per  dignity ;  and  manifested  in  various  ways  the 
chagrin  which  prudish  dowagers  are  somewhat 
prone  to  indulge  in  like  cases. 

The  Governor  hearing  of  this,  called  to  him  the 
stout  Juan  de  Anasco,  who  was  the  very  man  for 
undertakings  of  the  kind,  and  ordered  him  to  take 
thirty  companions  and  depart  for  the  retreat  of  this 
coy  widow  ;  and  by  fair  and  gentle  means  prevail 
upon  her  to  come  to  the  encampment. 

Juan  de  Anasco  and  his  comrades,  set  off  at  once, 
on  foot,  although  the  morning  was  already  some 
what  advanced.  They  wrere  guided'  by  a  youthful 
warrior,  whom  the  princess  had  granted  them  for 
the  purpose.  This  youth  was  a  near  relative  to  the 
widow,  and  had  been  reared  by  her,  and,  being  kind 
and  noble  in  his  nature,  was  as  dear  to  him  as 
though  he  were  her  own  son.  For  this  reason  her 
daughter  had  chosen  him  to  accompany  the  Spa 
niards  ;  and  had  instructed  him  to  go  in  advance  of 
them  when  they  approached  the  residence  of  her 
mother,  to  secure  for  them  a  favourable  reception. 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  271 

He  shewed  indeed,  in  countenance  and  bearing, 
his  generous  blood.  He  was  about  twenty  one  years 
of  age  ;  with  handsome  features,  and  a  vigorous 
and  graceful  form.  His  head  was  decorated  with 
lofty  plumes  of  different  coloured  feathers,  he  wore 
a  mantle  of  dressed  deer  skin  ;  in  his  hand  he  bore 
a  beautiful  bow,  so  highly  varnished  as  to  appear  as 
if  finely  enamelled ;  and  afhis  shoulder  hung  a  qui 
ver  full  of  arrows.  With  a  light  and  elastic  step,  and 
an  animated  and  gallant  air ;  his  whole  appearance 
was  that  of  an  ambassador,  worthy  of  the  young 
and  beautiful  princess  whom  he  served. 


272 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

The  melancholy  fate  of  the  young  Indian  guide. 
Anasco  makes  another  attempt  to  capture  the  old 
princess. 

1540.  JUAN  DE  ANASCO  and  his  comrades  having 
proceeded  nearly  three  leagues,  stopped  to  make 
their  midday  meal  and  take  their  repose  beneath  the 
shade  of  some  wide  spreading  trees,  as  the  heat 
was  oppressive.  The  Indian  guide  had  proved  a 
cheerful  and  joyous  companion,  entertaining  them 
all  the  way  with  accounts  of  the  surrounding  coun 
try  arid  the  adjacent  provinces.  On  a  sudden,  after 
they  had  halted,  he  became  moody  and  thoughtful, 
and,  leaning  his  cheek  upon  his  hand,  fell  into  a  re 
verie,  uttering  repeated  and  deep  drawn  sighs.  The 
Spaniards  noticed  his  dejection,  but,  fearing  to  en- 
crease  it,  forbore  to  demand  the  cause. 

After  a  time,  he  quietly  took  off  his  quiver,  and 
placing  it  before  him,  drew  out  the  arrows  slowly, 
one  by  one.  They  were  admirable  for  the  skill 
and  elegance  with  which  they  were  formed.  Their 
shafts  were  reeds.  Some  were  tipped  with  buck's 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  273 

horn,  wrought  with  four  corners  like  a  diamond ; 
some  were  pointed  with  the  bones  of  fishes,  curi 
ously  fashioned  ;  others,  with  barbs  of  the  palm  and 
other  hard  woods ;  and  some  were  three  pronged. 
They  were  feathered  in  a  triangular  manner,  to  ren 
der  their  flight  of  greater  accuracy. 

The  Spaniards  could  not  sufficiently  admire  their- 
beauty  ;  they  took  them  up,  and  passed  them  from 
hand  to  hand,  examining  and  praisin-g  their  work 
manship  and  extolling  the  skill  of  their  owner.  The 
youthful  Indian  continued  thoughtfully  emptying  his 
quiver,  until,  almost  at  the  last,  he  drew  forth  an  ar 
row  with  a  point  of  flint,  long  and  sharp,  and  shap 
ed  like  a  dagger  ;  then,  casting  round  a  glance,  and 
seeing  the  Spaniards  engaged  in  admiring  his  darts, 
he  suddenly  plunged  the  weapon  in  his  throat,  and 
fell  dead  upon  the  spot. 

Shocked  at  the  circumstance,  and  grieved  at  not 
having  been  able  to  prevent  it,  the  Spaniards  called 
to  their  Indian  attendants,  and  demanded  the  rea 
son  of  this  melancholy  act,  in  one  who  had  just  be 
fore  been  so  joyous. 

The  Indians  broke  into  loud  lamentations  over 
the  corpse  ;  for  the  youth  was  tenderly  beloved  by 
them,  and  they  knew  the  grief  his  untimely  fate 
would  cause  to  both  of  their  princesses.  They 
could  only  account  for  his  self  destruction  by  sup- 


274  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

posing  him  perplexed  and  afflicted  about  his  embas 
sy.  He  knew  that  his  errand  would  be  disagreea 
ble  to  the  mother,  and  apprehended  that  the  plan 
of  the  Spaniards  was  to  carry  her  off.  He  alone 
knew  the  place  of  her  concealment,  and  it  appear 
ed  to  his  generous  mind  an  unworthy  return  for  her 
love  and  confidence  thus  to  betray  her  to  strangers. 
On  the  other  hand  he  was  aware  that,  should  he 
disobey  the  mandates  of  his  young  mistress,  he 
should  lose  her  favour  and  fall  into  disgrace.  Either 
of  these  alternatives  would  be  worse  than  death  ; 
he  had  chosen  death,  therefore,  as  the  lesser  evil, 
and  as  leaving  a  proof  to  his  mistresses  of  his  loyal 
ty  and  devotion. 

Such  was  the  conjecture  of  the  Indians,  to  which 
the  Spaniards  were  inclined  to  give  faith.  Grieving 
over  the  death  of  the  high-minded  youth,  they 
mournfully  resumed  their  journey. 

They  now,-  however,  found  themselves  at  a  loss 
about  the  road.  None  of  the  Indians  knew  in  what 
part  of  the  country  the  widow  was  concealed,  the 
young  guide  who  had  killed  himself  being  alone 
master  of  the  secret.  For  the  rest  of  that  day  and 
until  the  following  noon,  they  made  a  fruitless 
search,  taking  prisoner  some  of  the  natives ;  who 
all  professed  utter  ignorance  on  the  subject.  The 
stout  Juan  de  Afiasco  being  a  fleshy  man  and 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  275 

somewhat  choleric,  was  almost  in  a  fever  with  the 
vexation  of  his  spirit,  the  weight  of  his  armour,  and 
the  heat  of  the  day  ;  he  was  obliged,  however,  to 
give  up  the  quest  after  the  widow,  and  to  return  to 
the  camp  much  mortified  at  having  for  once  failed 
in  an  enterprize. 

Three  days  after  his  return,  an  Indian  offered  to 
guide  the  Spaniards  by  water,  to  the  retreat  of  the 
widow.  Afiasco  accordingly  set  out  a  second  time 
with  twenty  companions,  in  two  canoes  ;  but  at  the 
end  of  six  days  returned  with  no  better  success. 
The  old  princess  having  heard  of  the  search  made 
after  her,  had  taken  refuge  in  the  depths  of  a  forest 
which  they  found  it  impossible  to  penetrate.  The 
governor,  therefore,  gave  up  all  further  attempt  to 
obtain  an  interview  with  this  wary  and  discreet 
old  widow. 


276 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

Disappointment  of  the  Spaniards  with  respect  to  gold. 
The  treasure  they  find.  They  discover  some  Euro 
pean  relics. 

1540.  WHILE  Juan  de  Anasco  was  employed  in 
his  search  after  the  widow,  the  Governor  endea 
voured  to  inform  himself  respecting  the  boasted 
riches  of  the  province.  For  this  purpose  he  called 
to  him  the  two  Indian  lads,  who  had  formerly  ac 
companied  traders  into  this  part  of  the  country,  and 
who  had  told  him  that  their  masters  had  trafficked 
here  for  yellow  and  white  metal,  similar  to  the  gold 
and  silver  shewn  by  the  Spaniards,  and  also  for 
pearls.  He  made  these  youths  describe  the  articles 
to  the  youthful  princess,  and  begged  her,  if  such  yel 
low  and  white  metals  existed  in  her  territories,  to 
have  specimens  brought  to  him. 

The  princess  cheerfully  complied,  and  in  a  little 
while  several  Indians  appeared,  laden  with  the  sup 
posed  treasure.  To  the  great  disappointment  of 
the  Spaniards,  however,  the  yellow  metal  proved 
to  be  a  species  of  copper  of  a  yellowish  tint  much 


CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA.  277 

resembling  gold  ;  and  the  white  metal,  though  a 
shining  substance  somewhat  of  the  appearance  of 
silver,  was  extremely  light,  and  crumbled  in  the 
hand  like  dry  earth.  Some  have  supposed  it  was  a 
species  of  quartz,  but  it  is  probable  that  it  was  mica. 
Thus  vanished  of  a  sudden  the  golden  treasures  of 
Cofachiqui. 

To  console  the  Spaniards  under  their  evident 
disappointment,  the  princess  pointed  out  a  kind 
of  temple  or  mausoleum,  at  one  end  of  the  vil 
lage,  and  informed  them  that  it  was  the  sepulchre 
of  all  the  chieftains  and  great  warriors  of  the  place, 
and  was  adorned  within  with  great  quantities  of 
pearls ;  and  that  at  another  village  called  Talome- 
co,  about  a  league  distant,  the  ancient  seat  of  terri 
tory,  was  a  still  larger  mausoleum,  in  which  all  her 
ancestors  were  interred,  and  which  contained  still 
greater  quantities  of  pearls,  all  which  she  assured 
the  Governor,  should  be  entirely  at  liis  disposal. 

De  Soto  was  in  some  degree  consoled  by  the 
news  of  these  immense  hoards  of  pearls  for  his 
disappointment  in  respect  to  gold,  though  ;  even  as 
to  the  latter,  many  of  his  followers  did  not  give  up 
their  hopes,  insisting  that  there  were  veins  of  gold  in 
the  copper  and  brass  of  the  country.  They  were 
destitute,  however,  of  aquafortis,  or  touchstones  to 
assay  them. 

24 


278  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

Juan  de  Anasco,  the  Contador,  or  royal  account 
ant  of  the  expedition,  being  absent,  the  Governor 
deferred  visiting  the  temple  until  he  should  be  pre 
sent  in  his  official  capacity.  In  the  mean  time,  he 
placed  trusty  persons  to  keep  watch  round  the  edi 
fice  by  day  and  night. 

As  soon  as  Anasco  returned,  the  Governor  visit 
ed  the  mausoleum,  accompanied  by  the  officers  of 
the  royal  revenue,  and  a  number  of  his  principal 
officers  and  soldiers.  These  edifices  were  of  great 
magnitude,  that  at  Talomeco,  being  a  hundred  paces 
in  length,  and  forty  in  breadth,  with  lofty  roofs  of 
reed.  At  the  entrance  to  this  latter  temple  or  mau 
soleum,  were  gigantic  statues  of  wood  carved  with 
considerable  skill,  the  largest  being  twelve  feet  in 
height.  They  were  armed  with  various  weapons 
and  stood  in  threatening  attitudes,  with  ferocious 
looks.  The  interior  of  the  temple  was  likewise  de 
corated  with  statues  of  various  shapes  and  sizes  ; 
and  great  profusion  of  conchs,  and  different  kinds 
of  sea  and  river  shells. 

Around  the  sepulchre  were  benches  on  which 
were  wooden  chests,  skilfully  wrought,  but  without 
locks  or  hinges.  In  these  were  the  bodies  of  the 
departed  Caciques  and  chieftains  of  Cofachiqui,  left 
to  their  natural  decay  ;  for  these  edifices  were 
merely  used  as  charnel  houses.  Beside  these  chests 


wit 

* 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  279 

there  were  smaller  ones,  and  baskets  wrought  of 
carie,  which  were  filled  with  valuable  furs  and  In 
dian  robes  of  dressed  skins,  and  mantles  made  of 
the  inner  rind  and  bark  of  trees,  and  others  of  a 
species  of  grass  which  when  beaten  was  not  unlike 
flax.  There  were  others  formed  with  feathers  of 
various  colours  which  the  natives  wore  during  the 
winter.  But  above  all,  they  contained  pearls  of 
every  size,  and  in  incredible  quantities,  together 
with  the  figures  of  children  and  birds  made  of  pearl. 
The  Portuguese  narrator  says,  they  obtained  four 
teen  bushels  of  pearls,  and  that  the  female  Cacique 
assured  them,  that,  if  they  searched  the  neighbour 
ing  villages,  they  might  find  enough  to  load  all  the 
horses  of  the  army.  Nor  is  the  Inca  less  extrava 
gant  in  his  account.  All  this,  however,  must  be 
taken  with  a  large  deduction  for  the  exaggeration 
with  which. the  riches  of  the  new  world  were  al 
ways  described  by  the  discoverers,  when  beyond 
the  power  of  proof. 

The  Intendants  of  the  revenue  would  have  made 
general  spoil  of  these  precious  articles  had  not  De 
Soto  interfered.  He  represented  that  they  were  at 
present  merely  discovering  the  country,  not  divid 
ing  it,  and  having  to  make  their  way  through  a  vast 
wilderness,  it  would  not  do  to  burthen  themselves 
with  treasure.  They  should,  therefore,  only  take 


280  CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA. 

specimens  of  these  riches  to  send  to  Havana,  and 
leave  every  thing  in  the  temples  in  their  present 
state,  until  they  came  to  colonize  and  make  a  settle 
ment,  when  all  should  be  properly  divided,  and  the 
fifth  of  the  amount  be  set  apart  for  the  crown.  He 
distributed,  however,  handfuls  of  large  pearls  among 
his  officers,  exhorting  them  to  make  rosaries  of 
them ;  and  permitted  the  officers  of  the  crown  to  re 
tain  a  large  quantity  which  they  had  already  weigh 
ed  out. 

Annexed  to  this  great  sepulchre  were  several 
buildings,  which  served  as  armories,  containing 
weapons  of  various  kinds,  all  arranged  in  great  or 
der.  The  whole  establishment  was  maintained  with 
exact  care  and  evidently  was  in  the  charge  of  nu 
merous  attendants. 

While  ransacking  these  depositaries  of  arms,  the 
Spaniards  to  their  astonishment  found  a  dagger  and 
several  coats  of  mail.  Nothing  could  equal  their 
surprise  at  meeting  with  these  European  reliques 
in  the  heart  of  this  unknown  wilderness.  They 
questioned  the  Indians  eagerly  on  the  subject.  The 
latter  informed  them  that  many  years  before  a  num 
ber  of  white  men  like  themselves  had  landed  at  a 
sea  port,  about  two  days  journey  from  thence.  That 
the  commander  of  the  party  died  soon  after  landing, 
whereupon  great  factions  and  brawls  took  place 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  281 

among  his  followers  for  the  command,  in  which 
several  were  slain ;  the  rest  had  reassembled  on 
board  of  their  vessel  and  put  to  sea.* 

The  Spaniards  pondered  over  these  facts  and  de 
termined  that  the  white  men  in  question,  must  have 
been  the  unfortunate  Lucas  Vasquez  de  Ayllon,  and 
his  ill  fated  followers,  and  those  who  were  expe 
rienced  in  maritime  affairs  gave  it  as  their  opinion, 
that,  from  the  course  of  the  river  which  passed  by 
Cofachiqui,  it  must  be  the  same  which,  on  the  sea 
coast  was  called  the  St.  Helena,  f 

Elated  with  the  riches  they  had  found,  they  urged 
the  Governor  to  stop  here  and  create  a  colony.  The 

*  We  found  in  the  town  a  dagger  and  some  coats  of  mail ; 
whereupon  the  Indians  told  us,  that  many  years  before,  the  Chris, 
tians  had  landed  in  a  port,  two  days  journey  from  thence,  (this 
was  certainly  Aylhan,  who  undertook  the  conquest  of  Florida,) 
that  the  Governor  died  upon  his  landing,  which  had  occasioned 
great  factions,  divisions,  and  slaughter  amongst  the  chief  gentle 
men  that  had  followed  him,  every  one  pretending  to  the  supreme 
command,  so  that  at  length  they  left  the  port,  and  returned  to 
Spain,  without  discovering  the  country. 

Portuguese  Relation,  c.  14.— Lond.  1686. 

t  El  rio  caudaloso,  que  pasava  por  Cofachiqui,  decian  los  hom- 
bres  Marineros,  que  entre  estos  Espanoles  iban,  que  era  el  que  en 
la  costa,  llamavan  de  Santa  Elena,  no  porque  lo  supiesen  de  cier- 
to,  sino  que,  segun  su  viage,  les  paracia  que  era  el. 

Garcilaso  de  la  Vega  Lib.  3,  c.  18. 

24* 


282  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

country  was  fertile,  they  might  establish  a  lu 
crative  pearl  fishery,  and  carry  on  a  trade  with 
Spain  from  the  seaport  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

De  Soto  persisted,  however,  in  his  original  plan 
of  making  an  exploring  tour  and  meeting  Maldo- 
nado  at  the  port  of  Acusi,  according  to  appointment. 
He  observed  that  the  surrounding  country  would 
not  afford  provisions  for  a  month,  that  it  would  al 
ways  be  open  for  them  to  return  to  in  case  they 
should  find  none  richer,  and  that,  in  the  mean  time, 
the  Indians  would  sow  their  land  with  maize  in 
greater  plenty. 

After  a  long  sojourn,  therefore,  in  this  fertile  and 
opulent  province,  De  Soto  prepared  for  his  depar 
ture.  During  the  time  of  his  sojourn  several  broils 
had  taken  place  between  his  people  and  the  natives. 
These  had  originated  in  the  ill  conduct  of  some  of 
the  low  and  base  minded  of  the  soldiery  ;  probably 
in  their  rapacious  eagerness  for  gain.  They  had 
produced  a  general  ill  will  among  the  Indians  to 
ward  their  guests,  and  a  change  in  the  feelings  of 
the  young  and  high  minded  princess  ;  who,  instead 
of  evincing  her  usual  kindness  and  hospitality,  grew 
cold  and  indifferent  in  her  conduct,  and  appeared  to 
eye  the  Spaniards  with  great  distrust.  De  Soto  re 
marked  this  change,  and  received  private  intelli 
gence,  that  the  princess  was  about  to  take  to  flight, 


CONQUEST    OF    FLORIDA.  283 

and  leave  him  without  guides  for  his  march;  or  por 
ters  for  the  baggage  of  the  army.  As  his  route 
would  lie  through  various  tracts  of  country  under 
the  dominion  of  the  princess,  any  hostility  on  her 
part  or  on  that  of  her  subjects,  could  not  but  prove 
extremely  embarrassing.  He  determined,  there 
fore,  to  adopt  a  precaution,  which  he  had  more  than 
once  practised  in  the  course  of  his  expedition,  and 
which  the  Spaniards  had  found  so  efficacious  in 
their  Mexican  and  Peruvian  conquests  ;  and  that 
was,  to  secure  the  person  of  the  Sovereign,  by  way 
of  ensuring  the  peaceful  conduct  of  the  people.  Ac 
cordingly,  he  placed  a  guard  round  the  person  of  the 
female  Cacique,  and  signified  to  her,  that  she  was 
to  accompany  him  in  his  march  ;  but  while  he  thus, 
detained  her  as  a  hostage,  he  took  care  that  she 
should  be  attended  with  the  respect  and  ceremony 
due  to  her  rank.  The  policy  of  this  measure  was 
apparent  in  the  cessation  of  all  brawls  between  the 
Spaniards  and  the  natives  ;  and  in  the  good  treat 
ment  which  the  army  experienced  during  its  subse 
quent  march  through  the  territories  of  the  princess. 


In  detailing  the  march  of  the  Spaniards,  in  search  of  Cofa- 
chiqui,  we  have  as  usual,  availed  ourselves  both  of  the  Spanish 
and  Portuguese  narrations,  reconciling  them  as  far  as  possible, 


284  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA. 

and  exerting  our  judgment  where  they  vary  from  each  other. 
Nothing  is  more  perplexing  than  to  make  out  the  route  in  con- 
formity  to  modern  landmarks.  The  discovery  of  the  coats  of 
mail  and  dagger,  the  reliques  of  the  unfortunate  Ayllon  and  his 
comrades,  throws  an  unexpected  light  upon  one  part  of  their 
route,  and  shows  that  the  province  of  Cofachiqui  was  at  no  very 
great  distance  from  the  sea  coast  of  Georgia,  or  South  Carolina  ; 
though  it  could  not  have  been  within  two  days  journey,  as  the 
Portuguese  narrator  intimates.  The  armour  and  weapons  of 
Ayllon  and  his  followers,  had  probably  been  divided  among  the 
Savages,  and  carried  as  trophies  into  the  interior.  The  river 
which  passed  by  Cofachiqui,  and  which  the  Spaniards  supposed 
to  be  the  St.  Helena,  has  been  variously  conjectured  to  be  the 
Ocone,  the  Ogeeghee  and  the  Savannah.  As  to  the  vast  quan 
tities  of  pearls  found  in  the  Temples,  and  said  to  abound  in  the 
villages,  they  pass  our  belief;  yet,  both  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
narrators  are  very  positive  and  circumstantial  in  their  account 
of  them. 


END  OF  VOL.  I. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  I. 


CHAPTER  I.  PAOE 

First  discovery  of  Florida,    .....  9 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  expedition  of  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez        ...       15 

CHAPTER  III. 

Hernando  de  Soto — his  birth.  Adventures  in  Peru.  Fits 
out  an  armament  for  Florida.  Touches  at  the  Canary 
Islands.  Arrival  at  Cuba, 24 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Rejoicings  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cuba  on  the  arrival  of 
De  Soto.  Deposition  of  Nuno  Tobar.  Don  Vasco  Por- 
callo  de  Figueroa  appointed  Lieutenant  General  of  the 
Forces, 38 

CHAPTER  V. 

Juan  de  Afiasco  twice  despatched  to  Florida.  His  narrow 
escape  and  safe  return.  Final  preparations  of  the  Gov 
ernor,  44 

CHAPTER  VI. 

De  Soto  meets  with  an  old  comrade,  Hernan  Ponce,  much 
against  the  will  of  the  latter, 47 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  armament  sets  sail  from  Cuba.  Arrival  and  landing 
in  Florida.  Exploit  of  Vasco  Porcallo.  They  come 
upon  the  first  traces  of  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  .  .  54 


286  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Story  of  Juan  Ortiz, 61 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Baltazar  de  Gallegos  despatched  in  search  of  Juan  Ortiz. 
The  Cacique  Mucozo,  and  afterwards  his  mother,  visit 
the  Spanish  camp,  .......  69 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Governor  endeavours  to  gain  the  friendship  of  the 
stern  Cacique  of  Hirrihigua.  Gallegos  despatched  on 
an  expedition  to  the  village  of  Urribarracuxi.  He  hears 
of  a  region  to  the  westward,  abounding  in  gold,  .  76 

CHAPTER  XL 

The  expedition  of  the  veteran  Vasco  Porcallo,  in  quest  of 
the  Cacique  Hirrihigua,  and  how  he  fared  in  a  swamp,  80 

CHAPTER  XII. 

De  Soto  leaves  Pedro  Calderon  with  a  garrison  in  Hirri 
higua,  and  sets  out  on  his  march  into  the  interior.  The 
difficulties  he  encountered.  Gonzalo  Silvestre  sent  back 
with  a  message  to  Calderon,  .....  87 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  perilous  journey  of  Gonzalo  Silvestre,  and  his  friend, 
Juan  Lopez, 95 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Thirty  lances  sally  forth  with  supplies  for  the  Governor. 
The  haughty  speech  of  the  Cacique  Acuera,  .  .  101 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Governor  arrives  in  the  province  of  Ocali.  Occur 
rences  there, 107 


CONTENTS.  287 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  fate  of  the  Greyhound, Ill 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Spaniards  enter  the  vast  province  of  Vitachuco.  Their 
reception  there,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .114 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Haughty  message  of  the  Cacique  Vitachuco,       .         .       119 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Cacique  Vitachuco  dissembles.  His  plot  to  destroy 
the  Spaniards, 123 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Battle  with  Vitachuco,  x 128 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
Death  of  Vitachuco  and  his  warriors,  ....       139 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  army  passes  through  the  province  of  Osachile.  Come 
to  a  vast  morass.  Severe  skirmishing  with  the  savages. 
Preparations  to  cross  the  great  morass,  .  .  .  146 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Of  the  perilous  passage  of  the  great  morass,        .         .       154 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  Indians  make  a  desperate  stand  at  a  deep  stream. 
The  Spaniards  gain  the  pass,  and  arrive  at  the  Indian 
village  of  Anhayca,  in  the  province  of  Apalachee,  .  159 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Juan  de  Anasco  sets  out  in  search  of  the  Ocean  The 
adventures  he  met  with  by  the  way,  .  .  .163 


288  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

FAQK 

Juan  de  Anasco  arrives  at  the  bay,  where  he  finds  traces 
of  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez, 168 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

The  expedition  of  Juan  de  Anasco  and  his  band  of  thirty 
troopers, 171 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Continuation  of  the  bold  and  perilous  expedition  of  Juan 
de  Anasco  and  his  thirty  lances,  ....  177 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
De  Soto's  enterprise  against  the  Cacique  of  Capafi,     .       182 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Singular  escape  of  the  Cacique  Capafi,        .         .         .       186 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Continuation  of  the  expedition  of  Juan  de  Anasco  and  his 
hirty  lances,  and  what  further  befell  them,  .  .  189 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Passage  of  the  great  morass.  The  troopers  suffer  from 
extreme  cold.  The  vexation  of  Gomez  Arias,  .  195 

CHAPTER  XXXIN. 

They  capture  some  of  the  natives.  Perplexed  with  fears 
for  the  safety  of  the  garrison  at  Hirrihigua.  Their  ar 
rival  there, 199 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Anasco  sails  in  quest  of  the  bay  of  Aute.  Gomez  Arias 
embarks  for  the  Havana — and  Calderon  prepares  to 
march  to  join  the  army,  ......  207 


CONTENTS.  289 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Breaking  up  of  the  garrison  at  Hirrihigua.  Pedro  Cal- 
deron  sets  out  to  rejoin  the  Governor.  Desperate  con 
flict  with  the  natives  in  crossing  the  great  swamp,  .  210 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Fierce  struggle  with  the  natives  at  the  passage  of  a  stream. 
Arrival  at  the  village  of  Apalachee,  .  .  .  218 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

The  exploring  expedition  of  Diego  Maldonado,    .         .       222 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Strange  adventures  that  befell  the  Spaniards  while  winter 
ing  in  Apalachee,  .......  225 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Tidings  of  a  gold  region.  The  Spaniards  break  up  their 
winter  cantonment.  A  fatal  encounter,  .  .  .  231 

CHAPTER  XL. 

Reception  of  the  Spaniards  by  the  natives  of  Atapaha. 
Their  arrival  at  the  province  of  Cofa — and  what  hap 
pened  there, 237 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

Reception  of  the  army  by  the  Cacique.  Preparations  for 
penetrating  to  the  province  of  Cofachiqui,  .  .  242 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

Some  account  of  the  Chieftain  Patofa.  The  Indian  boy 
Pedro  has  a  marvellous  visitation,  ....  245 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

The  desertion  of  an  Indian,  and  how  he  was  punished. 
The  army  lost  in  a  trackless  wilderness,  .  .  .  249 


290  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Parties  despatched  in  different  directions,  to  seek  some 
outlet  to  this  wilderness.  Sufferings  of  the  army  for 
want  of  food.  Success  of  Juan  de  Anasco's  expedition,  254 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

The  half  famished  army  revived  by  the  tidings  of  Anas 
co's  discovery  of  an  abundant  region.  The  ravages 
committed  by  Patofa  and  his  warriors.  De  Soto's  re 
ception  by  the  beautiful  Princess  of  Cofachiqui,  .  259 

CHAPTER  XLVI. 

The  army  quartered  in  the  village  of  the  young  Princess. 
Anasco  despatched  after  a  certain  rich  widow.  Some 
account  of  the  young  warrior  by  whom  he  was  guided,  268 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 

The  melancholy  fate  of  the  young  Indian  guide.  Anas 
co  makes  another  attempt  to  capture  the  old  princess,  272 

CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

Disappointment  of  the  Spaniards  with  respect  to  gold. 
The  treasure  they  find.  They  discover  some  European 
relics, 276 


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